The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has released its bi-annual Public Health Pest Index, warning U.S. cities of a potential surge in disease-spreading pests through the winter and into spring.
The index highlights cities with ideal conditions for pest populations to flourish, including Boston, Cleveland, Denver, Florida, Grand Rapids, Louisville, New Orleans, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, and Washington, D.C.
According to NPMA, pests like ticks, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and rodents pose serious health risks, spreading diseases such as Lyme disease, West Nile virus, Salmonella, and hantavirus. Residents are advised to take proactive steps to prepare for the pest season, including learning about the risks and seeking expert professional help.
The top cities on NPMA’s list include:
– Boston: Rodents may push indoors in search of warmth, while warmer temperatures could start tick activity earlier than usual.
– Cleveland: Mild conditions allow cockroaches and ticks to thrive, posing a risk to residents as temperatures rise.
– Denver: House mice may drive into homes for warmth, while white-footed mice activity increases in rural areas.
– Florida: Cockroaches scurry indoors in search of food, while mosquitoes will return with warmer temperatures and increased rainfall.
– Grand Rapids: Record-breaking snowfall drives rats and mice indoors, leading to a potential boost in tick populations as spring arrives.
– Louisville: Extreme cold sends rodents into homes for shelter, potentially triggering an early tick activity surge.
– New Orleans: Historic snowfall likely sent rats and cockroaches indoors, but mosquitoes will return with warmer temperatures.
– Salt Lake City: House mice and white-footed mice scurry into nearby homes in search of warmth and water sources.
– San Antonio: Record-breaking warmth keeps pests active, raising the risk of a pest boom come spring.
– Washington, D.C.: A rollercoaster winter makes rodent pressure skyrocket, potentially leading to an early tick activity surge.
Homeowners and businesses are advised to take preventive measures to protect public health and stay ahead of the pest season.
Source: https://www.pctonline.com/news/npmas-public-health-pest-index-warns-of-increased-pest-pressures-throughout-us