Public Health Challenges of Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases (Virtual)

THIS PROGRAM IS A VIRTUAL-ONLY EVENT. REGISTER BELOW BY LEAVING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO RECEIVE LOGIN AND CALL-IN INSTRUCTIONS (SENT TO YOU ONE DAY BEFORE THE PROGRAM). 

Tick-borne diseases are posing increasing risk to public health, where in 2018, 2,234 and 47,743 human disease cases have been reported from Connecticut and the U.S., respectively, with actual numbers estimated to be 10 times greater than reported. Lyme disease is now the most prevalent vector-borne disease in the U.S., with an estimated 330,000 human cases occurring annually. Connecticut is among the 14 states from which nearly 95% of Lyme disease cases in the U.S. are reported, and it had the 7th highest incidence per 100,000 population in 2018. The incidence and geographic range of other tick-borne diseases such as babesiosis and anaplasmosis continues to increase in the northeast. Recently in Connecticut, we have witnessed the introduction of invasive and range expansion of native tick vectors including the Asian longhorned, lone star, and Gulf Coast ticks, with abilities to transmit numerous pathogens of human health concern. In this lecture, current status of ticks and tick-borne diseases, and measures to prevent tick bites will be discussed.

Dr. Goudarz Molaei is a research scientist conducting studies on the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases and directing the Passive Tick Surveillance and Testing Program at the Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. He is a co-investigator at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector Borne Diseases. He is also an associate clinical professor at the Yale School of Public Health. Dr. Molaei has conducted research on the role of mosquitoes and ticks in disease transmission in collaboration with the World Health Organization and CDC. He has published numerous articles on the ecology, biology, and the role of mosquito and tick vectors in transmission of human disease-causing pathogens.