One of the many reasons why pests are unwanted visitors to our homes is that they carry diseases which can infect humans and lead to serious health issues.
Here are some specific examples of common household pests and the diseases they can potentially carry.
House Flies
House flies are attracted to air currents and odours and therefore are often seen in the home.
Houseflies are not categorized as biting insects and are indirect rather than direct vectors of diseases.
Houseflies can transmit or spread diseases to humans in multiple ways. These include:
Houseflies regurgitate a liquid which breaks down solid food into liquid, allowing the housefly to feast. This means any bacteria living in the oesophagus of the fly will be transferred to the food.
Houseflies tend to also breed in dirty places, because of this houseflies can pick up particles containing bacteria and viruses on the tiny hairs on their legs and body. Therefore when a fly lands on food bacteria can be easily transferred.
Here are some of the most common diseases they can carry:
- Dysentery: an inflammation of the intestine causing diarrhea that contains blood.
- Salmonella: another intestinal disease where a person may develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.
- Typhoid Fever: a bacterial infection that causes high fevers, weakness, stomach pains, and in worst cases, internal bleeding and death.
If you see a house fly in your home, follow the below steps to ensure diseases are not spread.
- Maintaining food hygiene by covering foods once eaten and not reusing appliances without washing.
- Eliminating breeding sites.
- Contacting a professional pest control company
Cockroaches
Cockroaches can transmit or spread diseases to humans in multiple ways. These include:
Cockroaches tend to have unsanitary eating habits, feasting on animal faeces and raw meats. The harmful microorganisms will multiple in its digestive system. The pathogen can then be excreted in cockroach droppings and will contaminate surfaces and food where they crawl.
Similar to Houseflies, cockroaches regurgitate a liquid which breaks down solid food into liquid, allowing the housefly to feast. This means any bacteria living in the oesophagus of the cockroach will be transferred to the food.
Cockroaches can be found in filthy environments. The bacteria from these environments become attached to cockroaches’ bodies and contaminates anything the cockroach then comes into contact with.
Here are some of the most common diseases they can carry:
- Listeriosis: Symptoms usually include diarrhea, fever, and muscle aches.
- Salmonellosis: Common signs of this bacterial infection include vomit, diarrhea, and fever.
- Campylobacteriosis: Infected persons experience fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain as well as cramps.
- Typhoid Fever: Common symptoms of this disease include stomach pain, high temperature, exhaustion, muscle, and headaches, as well as constipation.
If you see a cockroach in your home, follow the below steps to ensure diseases are not spread.
- Good hygiene: perform good hygiene for kitchen utensils and food products.
- Seal any holes in the house: check the pipes and possible places where these insects can reside, particularly reducing warm and humid conditions where cockroaches will thrive.
Rodents
Rodents can transmit or spread diseases to humans in multiple ways. These include:
- Inhalation – Breathing in dust that is contaminated with rodent urine or droppings.
- Direct contact – Direct contact with rodents or their urine and droppings.
- Ingestion – Eating food that is contaminated with rodent urine or droppings.
- Bites & Scratches – Bite wounds, although this does not happen frequently.
Here are some of the most common diseases they can carry:
Leptospirosis: Symptoms in people include headache, fever, vomiting, rash and muscle aches. Some people can become infected and show very few symptoms, while leptospirosis can be fatal in others.
Salmonellosis: In humans, salmonellosis causes gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever. Most healthy adults will recover without any serious long-term problems, but in severe cases the infection enters the bloodstream and spreads through the entire body.
Rat-Bite Fever: Symptoms of a streptobacillary infection include vomiting, joint and muscle pain, rash, vomiting and fever. A spirillary infection can cause a recurring fever, swollen lymph nodes and a rash.
Plague: Symptoms include fever, chills, weakness and swollen lymph nodes.
If you see a Rodent in your home, follow the below steps to ensure diseases are not spread. If in doubt, contact Go-Pest for professional rat control services
- Avoid handling a dead rodent
- Proof your home – Repair and fill any holes which may be the entry point to your home for the rodents.
- Contact Go-Pest to deal with your rodent problem.
Need help controlling your pest problem safely? Contact Go-Pest Environmental Services today for expert pest control in London and the surrounding counties.
