(PRESS RELEASE) SALEM, OR —The nonprofit Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) — the nation’s leading source on parasitic diseases that threaten the health of pets and people — released its annual 2022 Pet Parasite Forecast. CAPC’s 2022 forecast warns that vector-borne diseases – heartworm, Lyme, ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis – will pose higher-than-average risks across much of the country this year. Recognized as the global expert in forecasting vector-borne diseases of U.S. companion animals, CAPC also publishes corresponding 30-day Pet Parasite Forecast Maps to complement the annual forecast and to alert pet owners of impending outbreaks on a monthly basis in every county across the United States.
In its 2022 annual forecast, CAPC reports that heartworm disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, and tick-borne diseases Lyme, ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis continue to spread throughout the United States. Risks have increased due to rehoming of pets, as well as changes in:
The 2022 forecasts – supported by ongoing research by parasitologists and statisticians in leading academic institutions across the United States – highlight areas where more should be done to lower the risk of companion animals’ exposure to disease vectors, such as mosquito and ticks. The foundation of these prevention strategies are recommendations that veterinarians and pet owners test their pets annually for disease and protect their pets with products that kill/or repel mosquitos and ticks, as well as year-round heartworm prevention.
Advertisement“Because of the zoonotic potential of parasites, we started providing our annual forecasts to alert communities to the risk they pose to people and pets locally,” says Dr. Christopher Carpenter, DVM and Chief Executive Officer of CAPC. “Over the years, we’ve seen the risk for parasitic diseases increase and expand into areas that have had historically lower prevalence. CAPC’s 2022 Pet Parasite Forecast is critical to alerting pet owners to the risks this year and reinforcing CAPC’s recommendation that all pets need to be annually tested and protected year-round.”
For 2022, CAPC’s 2022 Pet Parasite Forecast predicts the following risk areas for parasite-related diseases:
Heartworm Forecast 2022:
According to CAPC, the risk of acquiring heartworm disease in 2022 is very real due to the expansive nature of the disease. Mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of the parasite that causes heartworm disease, which can be deadly to pets. This increase in heartworm prevalence can be attributed to several factors including warmer and humid weather patterns that create ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes; transportation of companion animals from one area of the country to another; and pet owners who don’t administer parasite preventatives 12 months of the year.
Lyme Forecast 2022:
CAPC also predicts that Lyme disease, a potentially fatal disease for pets, is expanding quickly. Transmitted by ticks, Lyme disease is spreading due to the expansion of tick host habitat range, primarily deer and rodents, and migratory birds carrying ticks to new areas. Warmer weather and longer seasons for tick reproduction is also a factor. Veterinarians and pet owners should test pets annually and use tick preventatives year-round. A vaccination for Lyme disease should always be considered for pets in high-risk areas.
Ehrlichiosis Forecast 2022
Ehrlichiosis, transmitted by ticks, is expected to be above normal for the majority of the United States, with some interesting emerging risk areas.
Anaplasmosis Forecast 2022
Anaplasmosis, also transmitted by ticks, poses major risks for pets in the Northeast and upper Midwest.
Pet owners and veterinarians who want to monitor parasitic disease risk in their county throughout the year now have access to 30-Day Pet Parasite Forecast Maps at www.petdiseasealerts.org.
These maps, developed exclusively by CAPC, provide a local forecast for every county in the continental United States and are updated on a monthly basis. This free service informs pet owners about the continuous risk in their local communities and reminds them about the importance of annual parasite testing and year-round parasite protection.
In addition, CAPC is the first and only organization to forecast flea activity across the United States. Updated daily, the Flea Forecast Maps display flea activity nationally based on environmental conditions. The Flea Forecasts also offer a unique look at the historical movement of fleas in a rolling 12-month time-lapse video. This compelling video shows changes in flea activity over the previous 12-month period. One of the most common external parasites of dogs and cats, fleas cause discomfort, allergic reactions in pets and are a source of disease in humans. The Flea Forecasts are a strong reminder to pet owners to protect pets year-round with flea control products, limiting infestations on pets and preventing establishment of flea populations in the home.
For more information about the Companion Animal Parasite Council visit www.capcvet.org. To view local 30-Day Pet Parasite Forecast Maps and the daily Flea Forecast, visit www.petdiseasealerts.org.
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