More Illnesses Blamed on Ticks, Mosquitoes, and Flea Bites in Recent Years, CDC Reports

Illnesses blamed on tick, mosquito, and flea bites have more than tripled in the U.S. between 2004 and 2016, CDC officials say. There were more than 642,000 cases of that kind of disease during that time, and the annual count is growing higher each year. In 2004, there were 27,000 cases per year. In 2016, there were 96,000. Health officials say they've also found nine new diseases spread by ticks and mosquitoes in the U.S. since 2004. The CDC says reducing the spread of disease will take a team effort: doctors to diagnose and report cases, local and state officials to track them, and researchers to develop new diagnostic and preventive tools.