These US cities could see surge in disease-spreading pests this spring
Deviations from normal weather patterns are putting several regions in the U.S. at risk for an uptick of disease-spreading pests as winter turns to spring, according to a new analysis.
A surge in disease-spreading pests like ticks, mosquitoes, cockroaches and rodents is expected in regions that experienced especially warm or wet winters this season, according to the National Pest Management Association's bi-annual Public Health Pest Index.
These pests can spread dangerous diseases such as Lyme disease, West Nile virus, Salmonella, plague, and hantavirus, said Jorge Parada, medical adviser for NPMA with a focus on infectious disease, in a statement. These types of pests can also trigger asthma and allergies, Parada said.
MORE: The pros and cons of spraying pesticides to keep disease-carrying mosquito populations down
Warm winters typically allows more rats to survive, while unusual weather patterns -- such as snow in New Orleans -- can present a host of new pest problems, Jim Fredericks, senior vice president of public affairs for NPMA, told ABC News.
Ticks and mosquitoes survive better when it is moist, so regions that experienced especially wet winters will likely see those pests on the rise during the spring, Fredericks said.
"If the temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, ticks will be active and in search of food," Fredericks said.
MORE: How scientists are tracking mosquitoes that could be carrying deadly diseases
Changes in climate -- both in terms of warmer temperatures as well as the extreme weather events occurring as global temperatures rise -- will have a greater impact on the threats these pests pose in the future, Fredericks said. The range for pests like ticks are also spreading due to warmer temperatures, Fredericks said.
The top U.S. cities named on the pest index include:
Boston: "Brutal" snowstorms and cold snaps pushed rodents indoors in search of warmth and food sources, according to the NPMA. In addition, a forecasted warmer start to spring could give ticks a jumpstart to the season.
Cleveland: "Mild, soggy conditions" during the winter could allow for pest populations like cockroaches and ticks to flourish as temperatures rise, the analysis found.
"The pathogens that they carry that could cause food-borne illness," Fredericks said, adding that rodent dander and urine can also exacerbate asthma symptoms.
Denver: "A frigid and snow-packed" start to the season will likely drive house mice into homes and businesses, while white-footed mice activity inside structures could increase in rural areas, according to the NPMA.
"The white-footed mouse is actually one of the vectors for hantavirus," Fredericks said.
Grand Rapids, Michigan: "Record-breaking" snowfall is expected to drive rats and mice indoors, and heavy rain forecasted for the area could lead to a rise in tick populations as temperatures rise, according to the NPMA.
Louisville, Kentucky: Rats and mice are expected to enter structures due to extreme cold and historic snowfall. Tick activity may also begin earlier than usual due to a warm spring.
New Orleans: Historic snowfall in the region sent rats and cockroaches into homes, and mosquitoes are expected to make a "fierce comeback" as temperatures climb, the analysis found.
Salt Lake City: Winter conditions could send house mice and white-footed mice indoors.
San Antonio: "Record-breaking warmth" during the winter allowed mosquitoes, cockroaches and ticks to stay active, and a "pest boom" is expected come spring -- with a surge in bites, infestations and pest-related health concerns forecasted.
Seattle: A warm, dry start to winter could lead to an increase in rodent and cockroach activity indoors and an increase in tick populations could occur with the spring rains, according to the NPMA.
Washington, D.C.: A "rollercoaster" winter that started unusually warm and ended in heavy snowfall has made rodent activity climb significantly in the nation's capital, the report states. Tick populations could surge if spring arrives early.
Florida: The group has issued a statewide warning for Florida, pointing to the Sunshine State's humid climate that allows disease-carrying pests to thrive year-round, the report stated. Although the winter brought dry, cool conditions, a surge is expected this spring as rising temperatures and humidity create ideal breeding conditions.
"We have all of the mosquito species here," Ryan Carney, an assistant professor at the University of South Florida's Department of Integrative Biology, told ABC News. "There's a huge diversity, over 90 species of mosquitoes. Fourteen of those are anopheles, which spread malaria."
Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on the planet, killing more than 1 million people per year from the diseases they carry, and Florida is no stranger to outbreaks of mosquito-borne illness. In 2023, nearly 200 people contracted dengue fever, and there were more than 1,500 cases of Zika in the state from 2016 to 2018, Carney said.
MORE: 'Super' mosquitoes have now mutated to withstand insecticides, scientists say
A citizen science project run by USF creates artificial intelligence algorithms to help identify and stop disease-carrying mosquitoes before they are able to infect humans and other large mammals.
"These citizen sciences, especially for mosquitoes, are a way that people can report these sightings of mosquitoes or mosquito bites, and that helps us scientists understand the biodiversity of mosquitoes in the area," Carney said.
These US cities could see surge in disease-spreading pests this spring originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
West Nile virus detected in Orleans Parish mosquitoes
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Mosquitoes on the New Orleans east bank tested positive for the West Nile virus Sunday, June 8. According to officials from the New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board, mosquitos collected from the east bank of Orleans Parish tested positive for the West Nile virus. Officials said the samples indicate that the virus is circulating among mosquito and bird populations. No human cases have been reported in Orleans Parish this year. Man killed in Central City stabbing The NOMTRCB will conduct spray missions by helicopter Sunday, June 8 from 7:45 p.m. to 12 a.m. They will target Anthony, Filmore, Gentilly and the St. Bernard area bounded by Lakeshore Dr. I-610, Bayou St. John and Music Street. According to officials, most West Nile infections are asymptomatic. However, common symptoms include headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea and rash. In rare cases, severe illness can occur. West Nile and other mosquito-borne viruses are more active in the summer and early Johnson teases follow-ups to the 'one big, beautiful bill' Hemi power: Ram plans return to NASCAR in 2026 with Truck Series entry. Cup Series could be next Texas Republican says LA 'tip of the iceberg,' deportations 'about to go way up' Heat Advisory & Isolated Thunderstorms continue for Sunday West Nile virus detected in Orleans Parish mosquitoes Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
These Popular Eggs Are Being Recalled Over Salmonella Risk
If you've been living for your morning sunny-side eggs…well, brace yourself. The August Egg Company—the parent behind Sunnyside, Clover, Raley's, and a few other brands—is recalling a whopping 1.7 million dozen eggs due to a potential salmonella outbreak. Yep, it's serious.. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have flagged the August Company's 'brown cage-free and brown certified organic egg' for possible contamination, meaning you might want to double-check that carton in your fridge before cracking it open. If you didn't know, Salmonella is that sneaky bacteria behind food poisoning and can cause anything from mild stomach upset to serious illness. These eggs were shipped to Walmart stores and other grocers in nine states: California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana, and Illinois. They have a best-by date from March 4 to June 19 and food codes P-6562 or CA5330. Not sure if your eggs are on the list? The FDA has a full rundown of all the recalled brands you can check out. And if the cartons in your fridge match any of the food codes or best-by-dates, toss them out immediately. While it's somewhat okay to eat an egg past its expiration date, this isn't the case. The FDA has already connected a current salmonella outbreak to the eggs. As of now, a total of 79 cases have been reported in seven states, while 21 people have been hospitalized. We get it: eggs are pricey, and tossing them feels like a waste. But don't risk it. Plus, most places will give you a full refund. And if your eggs touched any surfaces, wipe those down like your life depends on it. If after eating you feel dizzy, nauseous, or get a fever—don't play it cool. Call your doctor. This is serious business. Trust me, as a four-time survivor of food poisoning, you don't want to take any chances. You Might Also Like Insanely Easy Weeknight Dinners To Try This Week 29 Insanely Delicious Vodka Cocktails


The Hill
18 hours ago
- The Hill
Lyme-disease isn't the only tick-borne threat. Doctors warn these other diseases are spreading
(NEXSTAR) – You've likely heard public health officials' repeated pleas to check yourself, your kids and your pets for tick bites, which can spread serious diseases. While Lyme disease gets the most attention – and affects the most people – there are other tick-borne bacteria and diseases that have also been found spreading in the U.S. Just last month, Connecticut researchers said they identified the first case of a longhorned tick infected with a pathogen called ehrlichia chaffeensis. Infections can give people fever chills, headaches, muscle aches and stomach issues. 'We also worry about a parasite called Babesia, which causes a disease called Babesiosis,' said Nicole Baumgarth, a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in a recent briefing on tick-borne illnesses. The same ticks that carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease can carry this parasite, which then infects people's red blood cells, causing anemia and other 'very serious consequences,' Baumgarth said. Some people infected by the parasite may feel flu-like symptoms, explains the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while others may have no symptoms at all. That's a problem if people live with the parasite and then donate their infected blood, which can cause harm to the people who receive it as a transfusion. Baumgarth also warned of viruses that can be spread by ticks, such as tick-borne encephalitis. It's an infection that can cause inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. It's a bigger problem in Europe than in the U.S., she said, but here we have Heartland virus and Powassan virus to contend with. 'Both viruses are still very rare, but we have seen our first case of Heartland virus in Maryland last year, and the fact that we are now seeing these virus infections in areas that we haven't seen them before, it probably indicates the tip of the iceberg,' said Baumgarth. Because these viruses are rarer, and their symptoms can be non-specific, doctors don't usually think to test for them, Baumgarth explained. Many cases of Heartland and Powassan virus could be left uncounted as a result. 'So it would be rare that we diagnose it because we are not looking hard enough for it right now,' she said. Both viruses can present with generic first symptoms like fever, headache and vomiting, but can cause serious illness if left unchecked. Powassan virus could lead to seizures, loss of coordination and confusion in severe cases where the brain and spinal cord are impacted. Yet another concern is the tick that can cause people to become allergic to red meat if they're bitten. It's called alpha-gal syndrome and is caused by bites from the Lone Star tick, first identified in Texas. However, this type of tick is 'very aggressively' moving north and becoming a problem in other regions of the country, according to Baumgarth. Some of these rare viruses don't have a treatment or cure, so prevention is what's most important, the CDC says. You should avoid ticks by wearing long sleeves and pants in bushy and wooded areas, using bug repellent, and doing a thorough tick check after spending time outside.