Climate change is making the warm seasons of the year hotter and longer. Early spring and late fall temperatures are increasing and there are fewer nights below freezing. These weather changes increase the number of days that ticks are active and raise the risk of tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease and Babesiosis.
Climate change is also increasing the number of hot summer days and days with heavy rains. More rain and longer warm seasons increase the days that mosquitoes are breeding and biting, leading to a greater risk of mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).
Who is at higher risk?
- People working, playing, or exercising outdoors
- People with pets that go outdoors
What can we do about it?
Ticks:
- Wear long-sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors
- Check yourself, children, and pets for ticks after spending time outdoors
- Be aware of the symptoms of tick-borne illness, like the “bullseye” rash
- Learn more about how to prevent tick-borne disease
Mosquitoes:
- Use insect repellents any time you are outdoors
- Wear long-sleeved clothing
- Schedule outdoor activities to avoid the hours from dusk to dawn during peak mosquito season
- Repair damaged window and door screens
- Remove standing water from the areas around your home
- Learn more about how to prevent mosquito-borne disease