Health is a major concern this year, and many families are electing to stay indoors this holiday to prevent the spread of airborne germs. At Orkin, we applaud any efforts to protect the health of you and your family, which is what inspired us to come up with a list of common health problems caused by pests! Not all pests are created equal, and they certainly affect your health in different ways. If you are feeling under the weather and suspect it may be pest-related, we hope this blog can shed a little insight as to ailments pests can cause.
Three Most Common Health Issues Caused by Pests
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cites the three main health problems caused by pests to be the following:
- Vector-Born Diseases. These diseases are human illnesses that are caused by infections transmitted by the bite of an infected vector or insect, spreading potential disease.
- Asthma and Allergies. Household pests can trigger serious and uncomfortable allergic reactions, leading to asthma and allergy symptoms.
- Microbial Diseases and Infections. Microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses can cause microbial diseases and infections. Carriers of this bacteria have caused ailments such as Anthrax, the Bubonic Plague, and the Coronavirus!
Read more to learn more about which pests can cause these health issues and what you can do to prevent them!
Insect-Born Diseases: Mosquito, Tick, and Flea Control
You are likely familiar with some of the high-profile vector-born diseases, such as malaria, dengue, yellow fever, and Chagas disease. These diseases are spread by disease-carrying “vectors,” such as mosquitos, ticks, rats, and fleas.
Post-Walk Protocol. If you’ve recently taken a walk in an area with high grass, take the time to do a full-body inspection, to identify possible ticks and avoid bringing pests such as fleas into your home. You can protect your tasty skin by wearing long pants and sleeves before your next hike.
Orkin offers yard control and general pest control services to keep these pests away from your property 365 days a year.
Asthma and Allergies: Roach Control and Rodent Control
Cockroaches and rodents are two of the most common pests to trigger asthma and allergy symptoms. These two health concerns coincide because if you are allergic to roaches, rats, or mice, you will likely begin to show asthma symptoms if these pests take over your home. The first step is to be aware of your medical situation, so you can recognize the problem if there is a change in your environment.
- Cockroaches and Asthma. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), a cockroach allergy is a common trigger of year-long asthma. Studies have shown that children with a cockroach allergy need to go to the hospital more often for asthma symptoms than other children with asthma.
- Rodents and Asthma. According to the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH), laboratory workers who regularly handle rodents are more likely to suffer from increased asthma symptoms, even if they are sensitized to the mice and rats. Rodent allergies stem from the anima’s saliva, skin, or urine.
If your allergies are acting up and you suspect the cause could be pest-related, call Orkin immediately! Your health should never suffer because pests have infiltrated your home.
Microbial Diseases and Infections: Orkin VitalClean and The Invisible Pest
Just because you can’t see a pest doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Microbial diseases are defined as the sickness caused in humans and animals by the introduction of one of the following types of microbes: Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, and Protozoa. These types of diseases are transmitted through the air through acts such as sneezing, coughing, or talking. Sound familiar? That’s because COVID-19 is a microbial disease. They can also be spread through shaking hands, touching surfaces, or fecal transmission.
Orkin VitalClean. Orkin has services to protect your commercial property from even the smallest of pests. Orkin VitalClean services use an EPA-registered disinfectant labeled for use against a wide variety of pathogens, including other known coronaviruses.
