Vector-borne diseases are on the rise in Texas. These are illnesses carried by pests like mosquitoes or ticks – think the Zika virus, or Lyme disease. Not only are cases of these afflictions increasing, researchers are also seeing diseases thought to be uncommon in Texas, like dengue fever and bubonic plague
Texas has many common bug-borne illnesses, including mosquito-borne diseases and tick-borne diseases:
West Nile virus
The most common mosquito-borne disease in Texas, West Nile virus (WNV) has been a concern since 2002. It’s spread through the bite of an infected mosquito during mosquito season, which runs from summer through fall. Most people infected with WNV don’t have symptoms, but about 1 in 5 people develop a fever and other symptoms, and about 1 in 150 people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness. There are no vaccines or medications to prevent or treat WNV in people.
FIRST WEST NILE POSITIVE MOSQUITO SAMPLE CONFIRMED THIS SEASON
Dengue
Primarily found in the Gulf Coast or extreme southern regions of Texas, dengue is usually a severe but nonfatal disease. Symptoms include a sudden onset of high fever, severe headache, backache, joint pains, and a rash.
Chikungunya
Usually found in tropical and subtropical areas, chikungunya is generally not fatal but can cause joint pain, headaches, joint swelling, muscle pain, and rash. Most cases in the United States are in travelers and immigrants returning from countries where local transmission is common.
Zika
Zika can be spread through a mosquito bite during the day or night, and symptoms include fever, rash, headache, joint pain, red eyes, and muscle pain.
Lyme disease
In the United States, Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and rarely, Borrelia mayonii. It occurs most commonly in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and upper-Midwest regions. Lyme disease bacteria are spread to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks. Laboratory testing is helpful if used correctly and performed with FDA-cleared tests. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics.