Which pest is most often associated with spreading diseases in urban areas?

Mosquitos are often highlighted as the pest most associated with spreading diseases in urban areas due to their role as vectors for various serious diseases that can affect humans. These include illnesses such as West Nile virus, Zika virus, dengue fever, and malaria. They breed in standing water, which is commonly found in urban environments, providing ample opportunities for their populations to thrive.

In contrast, while cockroaches, rats, and bed bugs can also pose health risks, their primary association is not as significant with disease transmission as mosquitos. Cockroaches can trigger allergies and asthma, rats can carry pathogens that lead to diseases such as leptospirosis and hantavirus, and bed bugs primarily cause discomfort and insomnia through their bites but do not carry diseases. Hence, the prominent public health concern surrounding mosquitos in urban settings makes them the pest most often linked to disease spread.