Vector-Borne diseases (VBD) are diseases spread to humans and animals through the bite of insects (ex: mosquitoes) and arachnids (ex: ticks). Diseases such as West Nile Virus (WNV) are spread through mosquitoes and Lyme Disease from ticks. There has been an increase in VBD in the United States (US), between 2005 and 2022 the number of VBD has doubled in the US and 10 new disease pathogens have been detected. Over a 20-year period (2003-2023) there have been over 1 million cases of VBD in the US. Worldwide VBD accounts for over 17% of infectious diseases and the loss of over 700,000 lives, all of this is preventable. There are over 40 vector-borne diseases throughout the world and with the temperatures in many climates becoming warmer these diseases are spreading in areas where they have not been seen before. In the US VBD include the following: Lyme disease, Tularemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Yersinia pestis, Theileria, and West Nile Virus. 

The table below differentiates between insects and arachnids, which both belong to the Phylum Arthropoda. Another way to look at this is insects and arachnids are relatives.