Data, Climate Change and Health: Vector-Borne Diseases

Posted by Sarah Levin-Lederer on July 11th, 2024 Posted in: Public Health
Tags: climate change, Data, MedlinePlus, Public Health

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Reported vector-borne diseases have more than doubled in the last 20 years due to a variety of factors including travel, changing land use and also climate change. Climate change is lengthening some vector (ex: mosquito or tick) seasons, and expanding habitats to new areas of the country and world.

This post is the last, for now, part of a semi-regular series looking at climate change, data and health. This series has already covered the basics of Climate Change, Data and Health, Climate Change, Data and Health: Extreme Weather Events and Climate Change, Data and Health: Extreme Heat.

What is climate change?

From NASA’s Climate Kids: “Climate change describes a change in the average conditions — such as temperature and rainfall — in a region over a long period of time. NASA scientists have observed Earth’s surface is warming, and many of the warmest years on record have happened in the past 20 years.”

Cambio climático evidencia, causas y efectos (NASA)

Climate Change and Vector Borne Diseases

“Mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas that spread germs (pathogens) are called vectors. A person who gets bitten by a vector and gets sick could have a vector-borne disease (VBD).”-About Vector-Borne Diseases (CDC

Vector Borne Diseases and Data

• Tick Data (CDC)
• Climate Change Indicators: Lyme Disease (EPA)
• Climate Change Indicators: West Nile (EPA)

Malaria, Lyme Disease, West Nile, Triple E and other tick and mosquito borne diseases are reportable or notifiable diseases making this epidemiological reports a source of data.

“Reportable diseases are diseases considered to be of great public health importance. In the United States, local, state, and national agencies (for example, county and state health departments or the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]) require that these diseases be reported when they are diagnosed by health care providers or laboratories.” Reportable Diseases, MedlinePlus

• Notifiable Infectious Disease Data Tables (CDC)
• Data is often also available from state and local health departments. Example: Maine Vector Borne information

Learn More: Vector Borne Diseases

MedlinePlus and MedlinePlus en español for health information for patients and their families and friends.

• Insect Bites and Stings
• Picaduras y mordeduras de insectos
• Mosquito Bites
• Picadura de mosquitos
• Tick Bites
• Picaduras de garrapatas
• Lyme Disease
• Enfermedad de Lyme

Pets can also get tickborne diseases. Learn more on Preventing Ticks on Pets (CDC)

Take Action

Climate and Health Planning Worksheet: Preparing a Coordinated Community Response (CDC)

Mosquito Control (CDC)

Preventing Tick Bites (CDC)

Before traveling, learn about prevention, symptoms and treatment for potential diseases, including vector-borne diseases. Travelers’ Health (CDC)