The world is teeming with bugs, and they're getting worse. From ticks to mosquitoes, these tiny creatures are spreading diseases and causing allergies, making life less pleasant for humans. The situation is particularly dire in the United States, where climate change, land use decisions, and the proliferation of hosts like deer and mice are creating a perfect storm for the spread of vector-borne diseases. Ticks, in particular, are posing an ever-larger problem, with Lyme disease, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis on the rise. The trajectory of tick-borne maladies is described as "explosive," and the situation is only getting worse. As many as 476,000 people a year in the US may be diagnosed with and treated for Lyme disease, an estimate based on insurance claims data. The best predictor of tick numbers is the number of white-footed mice, which in turn is predicted by the number of acorns that fall from oak trees. This year, visits to emergency departments across the US for tick bites are at the highest they've been at this point in the season in the past seven years, according to data from the CDC. The situation is not limited to ticks; mosquitoes are also expanding their ranges, with West Nile virus and dengue fever posing significant threats. The good news is that prevention is possible, and science is making progress in developing vaccines and other methods of protection. But the most important thing people can do is personal protection, such as wearing EPA-registered repellents and treating clothing and shoes with permethrin.
