Vector Arthropods and Public Health
Vector arthropods, among them ticks, pose a global public health challenge. Researchers estimate they account for about 17% of the infectious disease burden during periods of drought followed by heavy rains. This insight comes from the international expert José Antonio Oteo.
This invertebrate group spreads bacteria, viruses, protozoa, worms and toxins, with vectors including many familiar insects such as mosquitoes, flies, fleas and lice. Changing climate conditions, rising temperatures, and shifts in wildlife populations can amplify these diseases, often causing a rise in their frequency.
Oteo notes that invasive vector species are appearing in new regions. He points to the tiger mosquito as a case in point, a species detected in Spain a few years ago and capable of transmitting numerous infectious agents.
Expert commentary also highlights the emergence of an Asian tick species, Haemaphysalis longicornis, first reported in 2017. This tick has been linked to serious diseases and has rapidly spread beyond its origin to other parts of the world, including the United States, China, Korea and Japan. While there are currently no confirmed cases of this tick disease in the United States, the virus carried by ticks remains a notable threat that underscores the importance of risk awareness and monitoring. (attribution: Oteo)
Human Health and Environmental Health
Oteo emphasizes that human health, animal health and environmental health are interconnected. Decisions should be grounded in a global approach that considers all three domains, not just a single factor.
According to him, protecting public health requires addressing what happens to animals and the environment, since these factors have a direct bearing on human well-being. He notes an increasing ability to diagnose tick-borne diseases, but also stresses the need to manage wild animal populations and monitor vector arthropod numbers.
Images and findings from health agencies illustrate the ongoing risk when wildlife populations surge, such as millions of unmanaged rabbits supporting large tick populations. These dynamics can contribute to tick-borne diseases, a phenomenon observed in several European countries over the past decade.
While not advocating hunting, he argues for a balanced ecosystem where animal numbers are controlled to reduce the likelihood of unchecked arthropod multiplication and transmission cycles.
Ticks in Parks and Public Spaces
Oteo highlights a noticeable rise in ticks found in parks, a shift tied to higher animal presence in these areas. Dogs that are not properly cleaned after outdoor activity can carry ticks back into parks and homes. Public awareness campaigns about safer behavior in parks are essential, including eliminating standing water in pots and containers that can attract arthropods.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, first detected in ticks in Spain in 2010 and later found in deer, has been described in multiple cases across the country. This illness can be deadly, with mortality rates between 20 and 30 percent among those infected. Early recognition and timely diagnosis are crucial for prevention and treatment.
Climate change, particularly warming trends, is closely linked to arthropod vectors. Warmer conditions improve survival and reproduction rates for these species, which can extend their geographic reach. Among the most important vectors in Europe today is the hard tick, a carrier of Lyme disease and other illnesses.
Public health authorities stress the importance of ongoing surveillance, education, and prevention to reduce tick encounters in daily life and to limit disease transmission. (attribution: health agencies)