It can be easy to think of a pest problem as something that will go away over time, and certainly not as something that can cause serious health problems. What harm can a few bugs or mice cause, surely? Well, a pest problem can cause far more serious health issues than people realise, with an untreated infestation having a serious effect on everybody in the household. Below is a look at the health implications of some of the most common pest problems in the UK. It may make for gruesome reading, but we urge you to carry on to find out more.
Rodents
Rodents are cunning little pests, being able to squeeze in through every nook and cranny. The tell-tale sign of some rodent friends setting up home are their droppings. You can find these along skirt boards and in cupboards, where these cheeky pests will be helping themselves to your food. These droppings can cause mild allergic reactions on one end of the scale, and at the other, can infect people with the very nasty Hantavirus. Mice and rats can also carry salmonella on their bodies, transporting it around your home and potentially allowing it to enter your food supply, causing serious illness to anyone who consumes contaminated food.
Fleas, Ants and Stingers
You would be wrong to just associate fleas with your pets. These pests are happy to feed on the blood of any warm blooded mammals, which means that we are most definitely on the menu. Like any insect bite, flea bites can cause itchy unsightly marks all the way through to seriously harmful allergic reactions which could put some people in hospital. Another creepy-crawly pest is an ant. These are often found in large numbers and can contaminate your food supply, so controlling these is a must. Finally, bugs that sting such as wasps and bees can build nests in your home, and when coming into contact with people, can often sting and cause serious allergic reactions. The smaller the pest certainly does not mean the smaller the risk, so if you see a suspicious amount of teeny-tiny insects, don’t put off calling pest control!
There’s no Time to Delay
Know that you know about some of the serious health complaints that can arise from pest infestations, you can see why it is so vital to deal with a pest issue straight away. They can aggravate pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma and eczema, and cause entirely new health problems. Ensure that you are doing all that you can to prevent pests invading your home to avoid any health issues. If you do suspect that you have a pest infestation in your home, then find a respected local company who can deal with the problem for you. While they are doing this, they should be able to work with you and teach you about how to prevent your unwanted guest’s return. So if you have been putting off that visit from pest control for a while, don’t delay. The longer you wait, the more you could be putting everyone in your house at risk.
Barry Walker is the Director for tone of the UK’s leading pest control companies- TDC Pest Control. Barry believes that people are unaware of the extent of the health implication of pest infestations and feels that it is important to spread the message so people can get their pest problems resolved as soon as possible.