Diseases from mosquito and tick bites are rising. Here's what Hoosier parents can do about it. (2025)

As the outdoor season gets underway, federal health officials are warning that infectious diseases from tick and mosquito bites are on the rise.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new report Tuesdaysaying these diseases have tripled in the U.S. in the past 13 years with more than 640,000 cases of diseases from such bites reported from 2004-16.

It's also a serious health risk for Indiana families, too, state health officials say, with more than250 cases of tick-borne illnesses reported here in 2017.

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What are the most common diseases from such bites?

The CDC said Lyme disease andehrlichiosis/anaplasmosis were the most common tick-borne diseases in the U.S. in 2016.The most common mosquito-borne viruses were West Nile, dengueand Zika.

Even though rare, plague was still the most common disease resulting from a bite from an infected flea.

The CDC's monthlyVital Signs reportalso said nine new germs spread by bites from infected mosquitoes and ticks, including theChikungunya and Zika viruses,were discovered or introduced to the U.S. during that period.

“We’re seeing a steady increase and spread of tick-borne diseases, and an accelerating trend of mosquito-borne diseases introduced from other parts of the world,” said Dr. Lyle Petersen, director of the CDC's Division of Vector-Borne Diseases.

How common are tick-borne diseases?

Diseases from tick bites more than doubled over 13 years and accounted for more than 60 percent of all reported mosquito-borne, tick-borneand flea-borne disease cases, the CDC said. The number of diseases from ticks varied across the U.S., but those regions are expanding, the agency said.

In Indiana,ticks can carry bacteria that transmit a variety of diseases, such as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

“This is the time of year when we start to see the risk for tick-borne diseases increase,” said State Public Health Veterinarian Jennifer Brown, D.V.M., M.P.H. “The best way to protect yourself and your family is to prevent tick bites and conduct frequent tick checks during and after outdoor activities, whether you’re in the woods or in your own backyard.”

What caused the spread of such diseases?

Mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and the diseases they carry are increasing in number and spreading to new areas, the CDC said — exposing more people to the risk of infection. There were642,602 such disease cases reported in the U.S. and its territories from 2004 through 2016.

An increase in overseas trade and travel mean that a person who contracts such a disease abroad may unknowingly transport it home.

Finally, new germs from mosquitoes and ticks have been discovered, expanding the list of diseases found in the U.S.

What can be done about the problem?

To reduce the spread of disease and respond to outbreaks more quickly, the CDC said more help is needed at the state and local level to track, diagnose and report such cases. Such agenciesalso need to do more to control mosquitoes and ticks and prevent the spread of new infections.

The federal health agency also said that the public and private sector needs to develop new diagnostic and vector-control tools.

“We need to support state and local health agencies responsible for detecting and responding to these diseases and controlling the mosquitoes, ticks and fleas that spread them,"Petersen said.

How can you protect yourself?

Indiana state health officials warn that adult ticks prefer to hang out on high grass, low brushor shrubs, where they can jump onto a passing mammal, including people.

They suggest wearing shoes that cover the entire footas well as socks, long pants and long-sleeved shirts. It's also best to wear light-colored clothing to better spot ticks and hats to keep them from hiding in the hair.

Once indoors, check closely for ticks on clothing, gear, pets and skin, health officials say. Drying your clothes on high heat for 30 minutes will kill ticks, and showering also can help remove any unattached ticks.

“Ticks usually need to be attached for several hours to a couple of days, before they can transmit disease, so quickly finding and removing a tick can help keep you safe from disease,” Brown said.

An insect repellant with DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-touamide, or N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide)is recommended by the state Health Department for clothes and exposed skin. A concentration of from10 percent to 30 percent is recommended, but it shouldn't be used on infants.

Other EPA-registered repellants, such as picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD) or 2-undecanone, can be used.

The Indiana State Department of Health also saidpermethrin, an insecticide that stuns or kills insects that come into contact with it, can be appliedto clothing, mosquito nets or tent surfaces, but should not be applied to skin. If you do get permethrinon the skin while applying, wash the area with soap and water immediately.

How can you reduce tick populations?

The state Health Departmentrecommends several steps:

• Keepgrass mowed short and removetall weeds.
• Removeunderbrush and leaf litter in woody or shady areas.
• Treatpets to remove and prevent tick attachment.

How to treat mosquito bites

Elevating the area that was bitten can reduce swelling and applying an ice pack to a bite or sting area for 15 to 20 minutes an hour for six hours can reduce the pain or itching.

Use of a nonprescription antihistimine taken by mouth, such as Benadryl or Chlor-Trimeton, may help relieve itching, rednessand swelling, according to WebMD.com, but they shouldn't be given to a child without first checking with a doctor.

A local anesthetic spray containing benzocaine, such as Solarcaine, may relieve pain. Ointments, such as hydrocortisone 1 percentcream or calamine lotion, can lessen symptoms but should not be used on children younger than 2 without a doctor's permission.

There also are natural remedies to treat mosquito bites, including applying toothpaste, honey, aloe vera, or even rubbing it witha banana peel.

How can you treat tick bites?

Ticks are best removed with a tweezer placed as close to the skin as possible so as to remove the mouth and head parts. Pull it out straightly and gently and do not twist or turn the tick.

Do not try to remove a tick with a hot match or petroleum jelly, WebMD says, as that could cause the tick toregurgitate infected fluids into the wound.

After removingthe tick, wash the infected area with soap and water and apply rubbing alcohol to prevent infection.

The tick should be discarded by submerging it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag or container, wrapping it tightly in tape or flushing it down the toilet, Indiana health officials say. Ticks should never be crushed with the fingernails.

If you becomeill after finding an attached tick, see a medical provider immediately and alert the provider to the exposure. Antibiotics also can be used totreat tick-borne diseases, and a prompt diagnosis can prevent complications.

Call IndyStar digital producer Dwight Adams at (317) 444-6532. Follow him on Twitter: @hdwightadams.

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