Title : Climate changes & increasing tickborne illnesses
Abstract:
Climate change is reshaping the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases by altering vector survival, seasonal activity, geographic distribution, and interactions among ticks, wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. Warmer temperatures, milder winters, prolonged vegetation periods, and changing humidity patterns can increase tick abundance, extend questing seasons, and facilitate northward and altitudinal expansion into previously unsuitable regions. These ecological changes are contributing to the emergence and wider recognition of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, spotted fever rickettsioses, tick-borne encephalitis, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and other infections. Expanding populations of Ixodes, Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Hyalomma, and Haemaphysalis species also increase the likelihood of pathogen co-circulation, coinfection, and novel clinical syndromes, including alpha-gal syndrome associated with Lone Star tick exposure. Land-use change, wildlife migration, urban expansion, travel, and occupational or recreational exposure further amplify risk. Effective preparedness requires climate-informed surveillance, improved clinician awareness, timely laboratory diagnosis, prompt empiric treatment when indicated, public education, personal protection, and coordinated One Health strategies integrating human, animal, and environmental health. Addressing climate-driven tick expansion is therefore essential to reducing the growing global burden of tick-borne disease.
