arm weather plus extra time spent outdoors is a recipe for summer fun, but it’s also that time of year when mosquitoes and ticks seem to be. Sure, it just comes with the territory, but experts warn that insect-borne infections and illnesses are on the rise. And this could be the perfect storm with the 2024 Olympic Games happening in Paris this summer.—a virus transmitted by certain mosquitoes. Although it's usually found in tropical areas, dengue is on the rise in the U.S.
Here, an infectious disease expert explains the spike in these infections and how to keep yourself safe, with tips on how to prevent insect bites naturally.It’s no coincidence that as temperatures only seem to be getting hotter, mosquito- and tick-borne infections are on the rise, too.
“If it's warmer, they're going to become an adult faster and have more generations of mosquitoes, which can lead to more bites,” Von Fricken says. And more bites unfortunately means more insect-borne diseases.Whether you're attending the Olympics or a neighborhood cookout, there's plenty you can do to protect yourself from insect-borne illnesses like dengue and Lyme, and it all comes down to preventing bites in the first place.