Latest news with #Top50MosquitoCitiesList
USA Today
28-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Mosquitoes are adapting to warmer environments, risking spread of disease
Mosquitoes are adapting to warmer environments, risking spread of disease This story has been updated to correct the misspelled name of Lisa Couper. Warmer weather is lengthening the mosquito season in the United States, increasing populations of the pests and their ability to transmit diseases like Dengue fever and West Nile virus across the country. Some mosquito species are more adaptable to heat and better suited for dealing with heat waves than other insects. That's according to a recent study by the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health's Environmental Health Sciences Division, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 'The most common prediction of how global change will affect mosquitoes and mosquito-borne disease is that populations will shift to higher altitudes and higher latitudes,' said lead author Lisa Couper in an interview with Berkeley Public Health in February. 'That is assuming mosquitoes won't adapt to heat. But mosquitoes have all sorts of adaptive capabilities,' Couper said. Mosquito-borne illnesses continue to be a threat to millions in the United States. Mosquitoes may be coming to you As temperatures rise in numerous parts of the world, researchers have been fairly convinced that mosquitoes seeking warmer conditions will settle in previously uninhabitable areas. A study published in 2019 in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases showed possible migratory routes of disease-spreading mosquitoes shifting north if climate change continues. Maps from the study were based on estimates of future temperatures around the world. Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. Mosquitoes that spread diseases in the U.S. Most mosquitoes don't carry disease. Those that do are called vectors. Vectors means the insects spread diseases such as West Nile virus, encephalitis, malaria, dengue fever and chikungunya in humans, or heartworm parasites in dogs. The main mosquito species that can carry diseases in the United States are: More: Feds recommend pausing vaccine for mosquito-borne disease chikungunya in people over 60 Hotspots for mosquito populations this year Mosquitoes affect some American cities more than others. Orkin released its 2025 Top 50 Mosquito Cities List that places Los Angeles at the top for the fourth consecutive year. Other cities, including Detroit, Cleveland and Denver, made significant gains into the top 10. Ways to protect yourself from mosquito bites If you expect to be in an area where mosquitoes are, such as a park, lake or campsite, be extra careful when venturing outside. Mosquitoes are most active in the warmer months of March through October. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the best way to reduce the risk of infection is to prevent mosquito bites: ◾Use insect repellent, which includes DEET or picaridin. ◾Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants. ◾Treat clothing and gear with the insecticide Permethrin. ◾Avoid going outside at dawn and dusk, that's their most active time of day. ◾Take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors. CONTRIBUTING George Petras, Mike Snider and David Robinson/USA TODAY NETWORK SOURCE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UC, Berkeley School of Public Health's Environmental Health Sciences Division, Global expansion and redistribution of Aedes-borne virus transmission risk with climate change study, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, National Public Radio (NPR), Orkin and USA TODAY research
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
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. Viral kangaroo escapes (again) in Durango '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. Scooter riders will have new rules in Denver 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.
