Denver cracks top 10 for first time in annual list of mosquito hotspots
DENVER (KDVR) — Denver cracked the top 10 for the first time in Orkin's latest 'Top 50 Mosquito Cities List.' The annual ranking is based on the number of new residential mosquito treatments performed by the pest control company from April 2024 through March 2025.
Denver, which climbed six spots from 2024's list, was joined by Cleveland as another first-timer in the top 10, a move Orkin said signals a larger mosquito pressure in northern cities, amid climbing temperatures.
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'Mosquito control isn't just about avoiding itchy bites,' said Frank Meek, Orkin entomologist, in a statement. 'It's about safeguarding your health and your community. Proactive measures are key to controlling these seasonal surges in mosquito activity.'
Los Angeles took the top spot on the 2025 list for the fourth year in a row, with Chicago, New York, Atlanta and Detroit rounding out the top five.
Mosquitoes are the world's 'deadliest animal,' according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which said the flying insect spreads diseases such as malaria, dengue, West Nile, yellow fever, Zika, chikungunya and lymphatic filariasis.
The CDC said mosquitoes are ultimately responsible for more deaths each year than any other creature in the world, with malaria alone resulting in nearly 249 million cases and more than 600,000 deaths across 85 countries in 2022.
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Statistically speaking, Coloradans probably shouldn't worry too much about malaria, however, cases of locally acquired mosquito-transmitted malaria were spotted in the U.S. for the first time in 20 years in 2023, with 10 cases reported across Florida, Texas, Maryland and Arkansas, the CDC said.
According to Orkin, there are a few simple preventive measures people can take to help reduce mosquito activity, including:
Blocking access to the skin by wearing long sleeves, pants and CDC-recommended repellants
Installing tight-fitting screens on windows and doors
Trimming shrubs, grass and other vegetation to reduce mosquito resting areas
Eliminating standing water — a known breeding ground for mosquitoes
Denver itself has a 'Mosquito Management Program' that the city says is designed to reduce mosquito breeding sites and larval mosquito survival.
The program also strives to provide information and education to residents and businesses to help them keep mosquito populations 'at a safe level,' according to the city.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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