Controlling Public Health Pests
When a pest is capable of spreading human disease(s) or otherwise impacting human health, controlling that pest becomes a community concern. The risks associated with pest control tactics must be weighed against the risks to human health if the pest is not controlled. Those risks can include:
- Disease (i.e. tick-borne and/or mosquito-borne diseases,)
- Injurious bites or stings (i.e. fire ants)
- Respiratory irritation (i.e. cockroach litter)
To learn about public health pests, their potential impacts on human health, and pest control tactics, click on one of the headings below.
Please read our disclaimer.
- Mosquitoes (West Nile virus, malaria and other vector-borne diseases)
- Ticks (Lyme Disease)
- Lice
- Bed Bugs
- Mold
- Germs and Other Microbes
- Avian Flu
- MRSA Infection
- Roaches
- Fleas
- Spiders
- Ants
- Rodents (Rats, Mice, Voles etc.)
Don't see your pest? Try the nuisance pests or consider contacting your local university cooperative extension service. You might also try visiting their pest control fact sheets by clicking here.
Official List of Public Health Pests - EPA Pesticide Registration (PR) Notice 2002-1
Read NPIC Case Profiles concerning common misperceptions about pesticide use and review our list of Hot Topics for more information on frequently asked questions (i.e. organic food, CCA treated wood, mothballs, etc.).Mosquitoes (West Nile virus, malaria and other vector-borne diseases)
- Methods of Mosquito Control - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Mosquito Resources - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Outdoor Residential Misting Systems - US Environmental Protection Agency
- West Nile Virus Resource Guide - National Pesticide Information Center
- Mosquito Management Ideas - University of California Davis
- American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA)
- Toxicological Information About Insecticides Used for Eradicating Mosquitoes - ATSDR
- Choosing and Using Insect Repellents - NPIC
Ticks (Lyme Disease)
- Stop Ticks - Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
- Lyme Disease Prevention and Control - CDC
- Tick Biology for the Homeowner - Cornell University
- Taking Care of Fleas and Ticks on your Pet - US Environmental Protection Agency
- Integrated Pest Management Manual - National Park Service
- Tick Bite Prevention & Repellent Use - Connecticut Ag. Experiment Station
- Tick Management Handbook - Connecticut Ag. Experiment Station
- Choosing and Using Insect Repellents - NPIC
Bed Bugs
- Bed Bugs are Back! An IPM Answer - Cornell University
- Bed Bug Insect Notes - North Carolina State University
- Bed Bug Fact Sheet - Cornell University
- Bed Bug Fact Sheet - University of Kentucky (Available in Spanish)
- Bed Bug Fact Sheet - Ohio State University
- Managing Bed Bugs - University of Nebraska Lincoln
- Control of Bed Bugs In Residences - Univesity of Minnesota Extension
- Prevention and Control of Bed Bugs in Residences: Information for Homeowners and Tenants - Univesity of Minnesota Extension
- Guidelines for the Control and Prevention of Bed Bug Infestations in California - CDHS
- Traveler Q & A: Preventing bed bugs from hitchhiking to your home - Univesity of Minnesota Extension
Mold
- A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home - US EPA (Available in Spanish)
- Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned? - US EPA
- Mold Resources - US Environmental Protection Agency
- Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings - US EPA
- Mold - Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
- Mold Cleanup and Remediation - Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
- Mold Basic Facts - Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
- Dealing with MOLD Using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
- Frequently Asked Questions - American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
Germs and Other Microbes
- Selecting an Appropriate Sanitizer - National Health & Safety Performance Standards
- Cleaning up Body Fluids - National Health & Safety Performance Standards
- Disinfection and Operation of Pools & Spas - Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
- Healthy Swimming - Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
- Bloodborne Pathogens - Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
- Household Cleaning - University of Nebraska- Lincoln
- Cleaning Up Antimicrobial Hand Soaps - Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
- What Are Antimicrobial Pesticides? - EPA
- Selected EPA-registered Disinfectants - EPA
Avian Flu
- Avian Flu Information - Department of Health & Human Services (Available in Spanish)
- Products Registered with Claims to Control Avian Flu - US Environmental Protection Agency
- Individual & Family Planning - Information Available in Spanish, Russian, Chinese and more.
- Label Guidance for Antimicrobial Pesticides Used Against Avian Influenza A - US EPA
- Disinfecting Poultry (and other) Facilities Against Avian (Bird) Flu - US EPA
MRSA Infection
- Overview of Community-Associated MRSA - Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
- Questions & Answers for the Public - Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
- MRSA Fact Sheet - North Carolina Department of Public Health
Roaches
- Cockroach Control Manual - University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Fleas
- Ridding Your Home of Fleas - University of Kentucky
- Controlling Fleas - Texas A & M Extension
- Flea Control - University of California Extension
Spiders
- The Spider Myths Site - University of Washington
- Spiders and other Arachnids - University of California Riverside
- Spiders In and Around the House - Ohio State University Extension
Ants
- Carpenter Ants: Home and Landscape - UC Pest Management Guidelines
- Carpenter Ants - University of Kentucky
- Fire Ants - Texas A&M University
- Ants - University of California IPM Program
