BITE Act

Key Points

• This bill creates a national system to prevent diseases spread by ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas, with a specific goal of cutting Lyme disease cases by 25 percent by 2035.
• The system would use artificial intelligence to predict outbreaks based on weather, habitat, and wildlife data, and send real-time alerts to people based on their location when risk is high.
• The government would track both private and public insurance claims and monitor emergency room visits at civilian hospitals and military facilities to catch outbreaks faster than current methods allow.
• A professional vector identification service would be set up for both civilians and the Department of Defense, using a "One Health" approach that combines human, animal, and environmental data.
• The bill includes a public education campaign that would work through schools, workplaces, media, and community organizations to teach people how to prevent tick and mosquito bites.