Cincinnati Has The 38th Most Metro Mosquitoes: Report

CINCINNATI, OH — Cincinnati's mosquito problems are getting worse, according to a new report from Orkin. The company's annual list of cities with the worst mosquito problems puts Cincinnati as the 38th most infested metro area in the nation, up seven spots from its 2016 ranking.

As temperatures start to rise across the country, the winged blood suckers become more active. Orkin says mosquito season can run from April through October, depending on climate.

Many of the cities that landed in the top 10 of the list are coastal or located in the Southeast. The most represented region in the nation is the Southeast, with 21 metro areas on the list, easily the most of any region.

Atlanta repeated as the city with the worst mosquito problems, an ignominious title it claimed in 2016 as well. This year's top five cities with the worst mosquito problems, according to Orkin, are: Houston, Washington, D.C., Chicago, New York, Miami-Fort Lauderdale.

Nearby Detroit, Michigan ended up coming in at 8 on the list, down four spots from its 2016 ranking. Ohio's other two major cities, Cleveland and Columbus, landed at 25 and 44, respectively. The Cleveland-Akron-Canton region was down seven spots from is 2016 ranking.

“Mosquitoes are a public health threat,” said Orkin entomologist, Mark Beavers, in a statement. “Zika virus is currently one of the most notable illnesses that can be spread by mosquitoes, and it will likely be a problem again this year, especially in areas where the type of mosquito that can carry the virus thrives."

Residents should take steps to guard against Zika transmission given the link between Zika infection of pregnant women and the occurrence of birth defects in their babies. According to the CDC, Zika virus is chiefly spread through mosquito bites.

The cities are ranked by the number of residential and commercial mosquito treatments the company performed from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017.

1. Atlanta
2. Washington, D.C. (+1)
3. Chicago (-1)
4. New York (+1)
5. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (+8)
6. Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
7. Houston (+5)
8. Detroit (-4)
9. Charlotte, N.C. (-1)
10. Nashville, Tenn. (-3)
11. Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla. (+11)
12. Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne, Fla. (+11)
13. Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, Va. (+1)
14. Memphis, Tenn. (-3)
15. Mobile-Pensacola, Fla. (+11)
16. West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce, Fla. (+15)
17. Raleigh-Durham, N.C. (-8)
18. Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Mich. (-3)
19. Boston (-9)
20. Phoenix, Ariz.

The CDC offers these tips to prevent the spread of the disease:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Stay in places with air conditioning and window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
• Take steps to control mosquitoes inside and outside your home.
• Sleep under a mosquito bed net if you are overseas or outside and are not able to protect yourself from mosquito bites.

Eliminate Mosquito-Friendly Conditions in and Around Your Yard

• Remove standing water buckets, toys and other containers, as mosquitoes can breed in just an inch of standing water.
• Change water weekly in bird baths, fountains, potted plants and any containers that hold standing water.
• Keep pool water treated and circulating.
• Regularly clean gutters so water doesn’t pool.
• Trim shrubbery, as adult mosquitoes like to rest in dark areas with high humidity, such as under the leaves of lush vegetation.

Eliminate Entry Points

• Repair and use window and door screens to help prevent entry.
• Close gaps around windows and doors to prevent mosquitoes from getting inside.

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