These cities are most likely to see an explosion in disease-spreading pests: study
The Brief
Ticks, mosquitoes, cockroaches and rodents pose serious health risks, experts say.
Here's where you're most likely to see pest problems in coming months.
A rollercoaster of record-breaking cold, warmth, snow and rain has public health and pest control experts looking at health threats from pests nationwide.
According to the bi-annual Public Health Pest Index from the National Pest Management Association, 11 cities are at a high risk for upticks in disease-spreading pests. These pests include ticks, mosquitoes, cockroaches and rodents like rat and mice.
"Ticks, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and rodents pose serious health risks," said Dr. Jorge Parada, Medical Advisor for NPMA with a focus on infectious disease. "They can spread dangerous diseases like Lyme disease, West Nile virus, Salmonella, plague, and hantavirus, and even trigger asthma and allergies. Educating the public on these threats is critical, because without proper prevention, these pests can have serious consequences on our health."
RELATED: Ultra-rare, giant rat that cracks coconuts with its teeth caught on camera for first time
Boston: The NPMA says brutal snowstorms and mid-winter cold snaps push rodents indoors in search of warmth and food sources. With spring expected to be warmer this year, ticks may get a jumpstart to the season, "putting outdoor enthusiasts at risk sooner than expected."
Cleveland: According to the NPMA, the mild, soggy conditions are ideal for a rise in cockroaches and ticks.
Denver: The snow-packed Denver winter will have mice scurrying into homes to find warm shelter.
RELATED: Ticks use static electricity to latch on to you from afar, researchers find
Florida: Florida's dry winter has sent cockroaches indoors in search of food and moisture, while the historic cold snaps in the northern part of the state have driven rodents inside for shelter. Mosquito activity was lowered by the winter weather, but they'll be back soon, the NPMA says.
Grand Rapids: Rats and mice will rush indoors in search of warmth thanks to record-breaking snowfall. Tick populations are also expected to rise to dangerous levels with a rainy spring.
Louisville: Louisville saw extreme cold and historic snowfall, too, bringing rats and mice indoors for food and warmth. A predicted warm spring also doesn't bode well for tick season.
New Orleans: Like much of the South, the New Orleans area's historic snowfall has rats and cockroaches searching for shelter in homes. Mosquitoes are also expected to make a "fierce comeback" soon.
Salt Lake City: House mice and white-footed mice are searching nearby homes and businesses, looking for warmth and water sources.
San Antonio: It's been a record-breaking warm winter in San Antonio, allowing mosquitoes, cockroaches, and ticks to stay active, raising the risk of a pest boom come spring. "Expect an early surge in bites, infestations, and pest-related health concerns," the NPMA says.
Seattle: Seattle's warmer and drier winter could increase rodent and cockroach activity indoors as they search for water sources. Once spring rain kicks in, tick populations could rise.
Washington, DC: The nation's capital has seen a rollercoaster of a winter – from unusually warm to heavy snowfall – and that's made rodent pressure skyrocket.
"If spring arrives early, tick activity will surge, posing an increased health risk for the region," the NPMA says.
The Source
This report includes information from the National Pest Management Association's Public Health Pest Index.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 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
19 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.
