Top 5 eastern states for West Nile Virus activity

Mosquitoes are one of the deadliest creatures on the planet. Despite the insects small size, their ability to carry and transmit diseases makes them a force to be reckoned with. One of those diseases is West Nile Virus.

West Nile Virus is a disease commonly carried by birds. However, mosquitoes who get a blood meal from birds can become infected. They then transfer the virus to humans through their saliva, which allows mosquitoes to spread various diseases to humans across the world.

Which states have the most reported cases of West Nile Virus? To answer that, our experts referred to a mosquito activity map and ranked the top five East Coast states with West Nile activity using 2023 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you have too many mosquitoes around your home, contact our experts to get rid of mosquitoes and prevent them from returning. Reach out to your local Ehrlich Pest Control office today.

5. Ohio

Located along the shores of Lake Erie, Ohio comes in at number five on our list with 18 total cases of West Nile Virus in 2023. The state’s humid continental climate means cold winters, late springs, and hot, humid summers. This type of weather can make for perfect mosquito breeding zones, no matter the size of the city. Mosquitoes thrive in areas where there is a lot of standing water, such as Cleveland and other cities on the lake coast across the state of Ohio.

4. Georgia

Georgia is home to the internal travel hub of Atlanta, peaches, southern hospitality, and plenty of mosquitoes. The state's warm weather and humid conditions make it the perfect home for mosquitoes to breed. Georgia's short and warm winters give mosquitoes less time to hibernate and a longer active season. In 2023, Georgia reported 19 cases of West Nile Virus.

3. Pennsylvania 

Coming in third place, Pennsylvania is another state with a humid continental climate. Cold winters followed by very wet, warm springs and then hot summers make the state of Pennsylvania the perfect place for mosquitoes. Pennsylvania reported 22 total cases of West Nile in 2023. Some cities in PA experience more West Nile Virus cases than others, like Philadelphia, as it is located on the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers and has several smaller lakes. This, combined with the humid subtropical climate of hot, muggy summers, makes for the perfect recipe for mosquitoes.

2. Michigan 

Being surrounded by three of the Great Lakes, including Lake Michigan, Lake Heron, and Lake Erie, it is no surprise that in 2023, Michigan took the number two spot for the state with the most West Nile Virus activity. Michigan reported 24 total cases, and the state’s warm and wet summers definitely had an impact. Large metropolitan areas like Detroit have seen the most West Nile Virus activity in Michigan.

1. New York

The highest concentration of West Nile Virus in the eastern portion of the country comes from the state of New York, specifically, the large metropolitan area of New York City. The entire New York City metro area is the most populated area in the country. In addition to the many people who call this city home, New York City is a hub for international and domestic travelers. In 2023, New York reported 56 total cases of West Nile Virus. Its location near bodies of water creates the perfect habitat for mosquitoes to breed. Combine that with easy access to food (in terms of human blood meals), and the West Nile Virus can easily spread.

What is West Nile Virus?

West Nile is an RNA virus in the family known as Flaviviridae. This is the same family of viruses that other mosquito diseases originate from, including Zika, yellow fever, and dengue. The virus is found primarily in birds, but can transfer from birds to people via the saliva of a mosquito.

In over 80% of cases, people who are bitten show absolutely no signs of the accompanying West Nile virus symptoms. There are some who experience very mild symptoms such as a headache, fever, rash, or vomiting. Less than 1% of the population is at risk from the more severe form of the virus, which can turn into encephalitis or meningitis. This applies to those with weakened immune systems or people over the age of 60.

Ehrlich Pest Control can handle mosquitoes

There are many DIY ways you can try to get rid of mosquitoes around your property, but none of them are 100% effective. Just missing a single puddle of stagnant water, mosquitoes' ideal breeding ground, can lead to an infestation.

Our technicians can help you get rid of mosquitoes around your property and prevent them from returning. Contact your local Ehrlich Pest Control office to discuss our mosquito control methods and treatments today.

For further information from the CDC about West Nile cases, visit:

https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/data-maps/historic-data.html