Cleveland could see a surge in ticks, cockroaches this spring

How it works: The study lists 11 cities "most at risk" for a surge in disease-spreading pests over the next few months.

Zoom in: The report notes that Cleveland's mild and soggy winter conditions are "ideal" for cockroaches and ticks to thrive.

• Residents should prepare for a surge in sightings as temperatures rise, which is already happening this week.

Threat level: "Ticks, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and rodents pose serious health risks," Jorge Parada, a medical adviser for NPMA, said in a statement.

• "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."

By the numbers: Ticks are nothing new in Ohio. The state Department of Health has reported an increase in cases of Lyme disease, a bacterial infection most commonly transmitted by tick bites, over the past decade.

• That includes a huge surge coming two years ago when cases jumped from 554 in 2022 to 1,301 in 2023. There were over 1,700 cases reported in 2024.

State health tips for tick bite prevention include using repellents, tucking pants into shoes and checking pets for ticks regularly.

• If you are bitten, carefully remove the tick with tweezers and monitor your health for 36-48 hours.