Risk of Pest-Borne Diseases High in Summer

FAIRFAX, Va. (July 29, 2014) – Pest populations flourish in the summer. Some pests are just a household annoyance while others like ticks and mosquitoes pose serious health risks, as well. Using insect repellent with DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus can help prevent insect bites that transmit disease.

Lyme disease, spread by ticks, was been found in more than 40 states in 2012. In relation to other pest-borne diseases, cases of Lyme are seeing the highest increase. As much as 60 percent of deer ticks in certain states are infected with the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.

Mosquitoes can also spread serious illnesses to humans. The most common in the U.S. is West Nile virus but cases of Eastern Equine encephalitis, dengue fever and most recently, chikungunya have been diagnosed, as well.