Are you getting bit up in your backyard? More so than in past years? It may not be in your head.
A new report from the National Wildlife Federation shows that climate change has resulted in larger numbers of ticks and mosquitoes, as well as the flourishing of other nuisances, such as fire ants and poison ivy.
Titled "Ticked Off: America's Outdoor Experience and Climate Change," the report spells out the problem:
"We might like an early spring, but so do tiger mosquitoes with their bothersome presence and bites. An Indian summer may be welcomed by us, but it helps winter ticks survive in huge numbers.... Warm winters are a welcome mat for fire ants and deer ticks to expand their range northward where they can inflict pain or disease on unsuspecting people and wildlife. Poison ivy, which we always steer away from, is growing faster and becoming even more toxic, thanks to the rise in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere."
Besides the annoyance of bug bites, there is a real health risk. The Radio Iowa site goes into the how this has impacted the state of Iowa. The site explains that there were 44 confirmed cases of the mosquito-spread West Nile Virus in Iowa in 2013, up from only nine cases in 2011. Similarly, the increase in the numbers of ticks has resulted in more Lyme disease, with 250 cases of Lyme in 2013, which is 40 percent more than the number of Lyme Disease cases in 2012.
Dr. Yogesh Shah, the Associate Dean of the Department of Global Health at Des Moines University, said in a conference call, "Every increase in temperature by a degree or two increases the mosquito population by eight to tenfold," Shah said.
He also stated he was concerned about more exotic diseases showing up in Iowa. He noted four cases of the mosquito-borne disease Chickungunya have been confirmed in Florida, though it is typically Africa, Asia and Europe.
The report lists some suggestions on how to react to the increase in insects in the outdoors:
• Wear light-colored, smooth-finished clothing
• Avoid perfumed soaps, shampoos and deodorants
• Don't wear cologne or perfume
• Use approved insect repellents
• Wear clean clothing and keep clean
• Dress to cover as much of the body as possible
• Tuck pants into socks or boots
• Wear tight-fitting sleeve cuffs and collars
• Keep outdoor areas clean and free of discarded food
• Remain calm and still if a single stinging insect is flying around
• If attacked, seek shaded areas or shelter
You can read the full report, "Ticked Off: America's Outdoor Experience and Climate Change," at the NWF site (PDF file).
Photo: John Tann
