Story Spark: Insect-Borne Diseases

The document explains how climate change—specifically hotter summers, milder winters, and altered rainfall—is expanding the geographic range and longevity of disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes and ticks. It highlights specific threats in the US, such as the rise of Lyme disease in the Northeast and eastern equine encephalitis in New England, while noting a global risk where over eight billion people could be susceptible to malaria and dengue by the end of the 21st century. The guide advises reporters to examine weather patterns, consider social determinants of health, and consult vector biologists.

• Climate change is expanding the range and activity of mosquitoes and ticks through hotter summers, warmer winters, and changes in rainfall, allowing pests to survive in areas previously too cold or dry.
• In the northeastern United States, cases of Lyme disease have nearly doubled since 1991 and are expected to keep increasing due to warming climates.
• Global projections suggest that if greenhouse gas emissions continue at current levels, more than eight billion people could be at risk of dengue and malaria by the end of the 21st century.
• The incidence and impact of insect-borne diseases are heavily influenced by socioeconomic factors, including income, housing, education, and working conditions, which limit access to healthcare and sanitation.

APA

CCNow (2024). Story Spark: Insect-Borne Diseases. Covering Climate Now. https://coveringclimatenow.org/from-us-story/covering-insect-borne-diseases/

Chicago

CCNow. Story Spark: Insect-Borne Diseases. Covering Climate Now, 2024. https://coveringclimatenow.org/from-us-story/covering-insect-borne-diseases/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=CCNow |title=Story Spark: Insect-Borne Diseases |publisher=Covering Climate Now |date=10 September 2024 |url=https://coveringclimatenow.org/from-us-story/covering-insect-borne-diseases/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ccnow2024story, author = {CCNow}, title = {{Story Spark: Insect-Borne Diseases}}, institution = {Covering Climate Now}, year = {2024}, month = sep, url = {https://coveringclimatenow.org/from-us-story/covering-insect-borne-diseases/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }