Your Health During Pest Infestation
Many people have a fear of insects and rodents infesting their space. Most people see them as silent invaders waging a war on an otherwise wonderful home or professional commercial space. However, not as many people know of the health risks and repercussions that come from an insect and rodent infestation. All of this could be avoided with preventative care or at least eliminated quickly with proactive extermination and safe-proofing/repairs. The following are common insects and rodents that invade homes/businesses and what their presence means to the people in them.
Cockroaches
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) reports that one-in-five children in the United States have severe sensitivities to cockroach allergens, which increase the severity of asthma symptoms. Cockroaches can also carry bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella on their bodies, which can contaminate food, cooking equipment, and food surfaces.
Rodents
Rodents can enter a building through almost anywhere. With them come their droppings which most often cause allergic reactions in human beings but can also cause disease, including the potentially deadly Hantavirus. Aside from that, rodents carry bacteria, such as salmonella, on their bodies and contaminate food sources, often ruining ten times as much food as it eats, and leaving trails of bacteria on kitchen surfaces and equipment.
Summer Stingers (Bees, Yellow Jackets, Hornets)
Stinging pests send more than 500,000 people to the emergency room each year. These pests are aggressive in nature and often sting repeatedly as a way to protect their colonies or larvae from human beings who attempt to remedy an infestation on their own. In addition to the stings being incredibly painful, they can also be life threatening due to unknown allergies.
Ants
Ants and their often enormous colonies are not just an eyesore, but can also be dangerous contaminates to food. With their small but incredibly strong bodies, they can fit virtually anywhere and gather food, making a mess in countless places throughout your home.
Fleas
Fleas are common in warmer months or warmer climates, such as in California. They can cause itchy marks and severe allergic reactions to yourself or pets. They also tend to travel with rodents so the presence of one means that the other could be soon to follow.