CLEVELAND — Clevelanders, breakout your peppermint oil or whatever pest-control tools you have.
The National Pest Management Association has released its Public Health Pest Index, which aims to raise awareness about the health threats of pests, as well as which U.S. cities are most at risk for seeing a surge of them in the spring.
For Cleveland, it's not looking good.
The report notes that the city's mild and soggy winter may help pests to flourish — especially ticks and cockroaches.
”Ticks, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and rodents pose serious health risks,” said Dr. Jorge Parada, medical advisor for NPMA with a focus on infectious diseases. “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.”
Specifically, blacklegged ticks found on deer can carry Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesiosis. American dog, Asian longhorned, Rocky Mountain wood and brown dog ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, the report notes. As for cockroaches, they can carry nearly 33 types of bacteria, triggering asthma and allergic reactions.
Ohio saw an increase in Lyme disease cases in 2024, according to the Ohio Department of Health. ODH has a slew of resources of how to prevent ticks, as well as what to do if you get bit by one, here.
Cleveland isn't the only city expecting an increase in these insects. Other cities on the list include Boston, Denver, Grand Rapids in Michigan, Louisville, New Orleans, Salt Lake City, San Antonio and Seattle, as well as the entire state of Florida.
For more information about the report, click here.
