In what way can pests impact public health?

Pests significantly impact public health primarily through their ability to transmit diseases to humans. Many common pests, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and rodents, are vectors for infectious diseases. For example, mosquitoes can carry diseases like West Nile virus and Zika virus, while ticks can transmit Lyme disease. Rodents are known carriers of hantavirus and leptospirosis, both of which pose serious health risks to people. The presence of these pests in both residential and commercial areas can lead to outbreaks of diseases, increased healthcare costs, and reduced quality of life for affected individuals.

In contrast, the other choices do not align with the primary concerns regarding public health. For instance, while improving agricultural yield, increasing food variety, and contributing to soil health are positive effects linked to certain pests or microorganisms in agriculture, they do not address the critical issue of health risks posed by pest populations. Public health focuses on the direct consequences that pests have on human illness and well-being, making the transmission of diseases the most relevant and concerning impact.