Atlanta, Southeast Region Top Mosquito Cities List

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Mar 28, 2016, 07:18 ET

ATLANTA, March 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Atlanta area tops pest control leader Orkin's list of Top Mosquito Cities for the third year in a row. Atlanta is followed on the list by Chicago and Washington, D.C. Eight cities in the Southeast are included in the ranking – more than any other region.

The Asian tiger mosquito can carry and spread Zika virus, Chikungunya virus and Dengue virus. They are most common in the southern United States and are aggressive daytime biters that also bite at dusk and dawn.

Mosquitoes are known carriers of several diseases, including Zika virus, Chikungunya virus and West Nile virus, so people across the United States - whether their city is on the list or not - need to take precaution to help prevent mosquito bites.

"Mosquitoes are a major health concern during the summer," said Ron Harrison, Ph.D., entomologist and Orkin technical services director. "Mosquitoes are known carriers of several diseases, including Zika virus, Chikungunya virus and West Nile virus, so people across the United States – whether their city is on the list or not – need to take precaution to help prevent mosquito bites," Harrison added.

The list ranks cities by the number of mosquito customers served in 2015:

1. Atlanta	26. Mobile-Pensacola, Fla.
2. Chicago	27. Indianapolis
3. Washington, D.C.	28. Flint-Saginaw-Bay City, Mich.
4. Detroit	29. Bangor, Maine
5. New York (+9)	30. Philadelphia
6. Dallas-Ft. Worth (+2)	31. West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce, Fla.
7. Nashville, Tenn. (+3)	32. Columbus, Ohio
8. Charlotte, N.C. (+1)	33. Lansing, Mich.
9. Raleigh-Durham, N.C. (-3)	34. Knoxville, Tenn.
10. Boston (-3)	35. Ft. Wayne, Ind.
11. Memphis, Tenn.	36. Tulsa, Okla.
12. Houston (-7)	37. Baltimore, Md.
13. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.	38. Greensboro-High Pt.-Winston-Salem, N.C.
14. Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, Va.	39. Burlington, Vt.-Plattsburgh, N.Y.
15. Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Mich. (-3)	40. Portland-Auburn, Ore.
16. Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C., Asheville, N.C. (+2)	41. Buffalo, N.Y.
17. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y. (+2)	42. Shreveport, La.
18. Cleveland-Akron-Canton (-1)	43. New Orleans
19. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. (-4)	44. LaFayette, La.
20. Phoenix	45. Cincinnati, Ohio
21. Richmond-Petersburg, Va. (-7)	46. Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C.
22. Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla.	47. Birmingham, Ala.
23. Hartford-New Haven, Conn.	48. Austin, Texas
24. Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourn, Fla.	49. Kansas City, Mo.
25. Charleston, S.C.	50. Macon, Ga.

As temperatures increase, so will the threat of mosquito-borne illnesses like Zika virus. While June, July and August are the prime months for mosquito activity, mosquito season can begin as early as March in the southern part of the United States where temperatures are warmer. Mosquitoes affect people in every state in the U.S.

Most Common Mosquitoes in the United States:

Aedes Mosquitoes: The most common types of Aedes mosquitoes are commonly referred to as Asian tiger or yellow fever mosquitoes. They can carry and spread Zika virus, Chikungunya virus and Dengue virus. They are most common in the southern United States. Aedes mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters and also bite at dusk and dawn.
Culex Mosquitoes: These mosquitoes are in every state and can carry and spread West Nile virus. They are most common at dusk and dawn.
Anopheles Mosquitoes: In addition to spreading Malaria, which has been considered eradicated from the United States, these mosquitoes can transmit dog heart worm and other viruses. They have been found in every state and are most active at dusk and dawn.

Zika virus has become a major concern over the past year after thousands of cases were reported in South and Central America, the Caribbean and American Samoa, and more than 190 travel-related cases were reported in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"There is no vaccine for Zika virus, Chikungunya virus or West Nile virus. The only protection is preventing mosquito bites, so anyone who spends time outdoors during the spring and summer months needs to take precaution by eliminating standing water where mosquitoes can breed," said Harrison.

Orkin recommends the following tips to help protect against mosquito-borne illnesses:

Eliminate Standing Water in Yard

Remove standing water from gutters, buckets, toys and other containers, as mosquitoes can breed in just a few inches 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.

Prevent Mosquito Bites

Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
Use EPA-registered mosquito repellents containing one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol or IR3535.

Eliminate Entry Points

Use air-conditioning when possible.
Close gaps around windows and in walls.
Repair and use window and door screens to help prevent entry.

Rollins, Orkin's parent company, experienced a 9.6 percent increase in mosquito revenue from 2014 to 2015.

Visit the Centers for Disease Control site for the latest information on known Zika-affected areas and updated travel alerts. For more information about Zika virus, visit Orkin's Zika virus page. For more mosquito information and prevention tips, visit our Mosquitoes page.

About Orkin, LLC
Founded in 1901, Atlanta-based Orkin is an industry leader in essential pest control services and protection against termite damage, rodents and insects. The company operates more than 400 locations with almost 8,000 employees. Using a proprietary, three-step approach, Orkin provides customized services to approximately 1.7 million homeowners and businesses in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America, Central America, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Asia, the Mediterranean and Africa. Orkin is committed to studying pest biology and applying scientifically proven methods. The company collaborates with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and eight major universities to conduct research and help educate consumers and businesses on pest-related health threats. Learn more about Orkin at Orkin.com. Orkin is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rollins Inc. (NYSE: ROL). Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.