Terminix® was out Monday with its 2019 ranking of the top 50 most bed bug-infested cities in the country.
Philadelphia reclaimed the top title it last held in 2014, while Cleveland fell to No. 7 after two years as No. 1 on the list. New York, Dallas, Indianapolis and Cincinnati rounded out the top five spots. Ohio dominated the list with six cities in the top 50, and Florida followed closely behind with five.
Terminix based its rankings on the number of services rendered in each city in the past year. The top 50 cities for bed bug infestations in the United States are:
“Bed bugs continue to pose concerns for public health, as their presence is felt across the country, in cities large and small,” said Matthew Stevenson, president of Terminix Residential. “Since pioneering this annual list almost a decade ago, Terminix has proven itself as a leader in bed bug detection, treatment and eradication. We’ve helped bring awareness to an epidemic that can lead to a variety of negative physical health, mental health and financial consequences.”
New research reveals one-fifth (22%) of Americans polled have had a bed bug encounter, and the odds are much higher for those with children (35%). Despite the high incidence rates and increased awareness of bed bugs, this research shows nearly half of the country who travel (48%) do not know what precautions to take to guard against them.
