Aside from being an unwanted sight and nuisance, you can never underestimate the extent to which pests can pose a threat to your health and well-being.

While some pests transmit diseases by stinging and biting, others are capable of conveying harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, virus, and parasites through their feeding, waste droppings, and breeding habits.

Once these pests are present in your house, you will unavoidably have contact with them or their waste droppings, urine, or saliva, and this could subsequently lead to diseases, some of which could be life-threatening.

It is on record that about 25 million European lives were lost during the late middle ages to fleas alone.

In this article, you will discover some specific health dangers and challenges posed by bugs, rodents, and termites to humans.

Health Dangers of Rodents to Humans

During winter, there is a possibility that you are always concerned about the flu and cold. However, there is something you should be more concerned about during this period. It is rodent’s infestation which could be of higher health risk to you. During winter, rodents invade as many as 21 million houses in the United States.

Rodents such as rats and mice seek warmth, food, and shelter indoors during colder months. They find their ways into your homes through cracks and crevices. Once they are inside, rodents are not only capable of destroying your property, but also they can spread diseases such as:

A) Hantavirus:

Hantavirus is a life-threatening disease that can easily be transmitted to humans. When you come in contact with or inhale rodents saliva, urine or droppings, you can contract this disease.

B) Rat-Bite Fever:

Rat-Bite Fever is another potentially fatal and highly infectious disease that could be contracted through infected rodents or the consumption of food contaminated by rodents.

C) Bubonic Plague:

This plague, reputed to have killed millions could be creeping easily around your home. All that is required is the presence of rodents and fleas. Once the insects land on rodents and get infected, they can easily infect humans when the flea bites.

D) Salmonellosis:

Salmonellosis is nothing but a type of food poisoning that is spread easily by rodents feces. It is done primarily through the consumption of food contaminated by rat droppings and urine.

E) Tularemia:

Tularemia is commonly found in rodents, rabbits, and hares. It is transferred to humans by an infected deer fly bite or tick bite. It can also be transmitted through handling of animals that are infected.

Health Dangers of Bedbugs to Humans

You must be familiar with the common saying, “goodnight, sleep tight, and don’t let the bedbugs bite.” You may regard bedbugs as being harmless, but they can cause health issues.

Some of the notable health cases caused by bedbugs are:

A) Allergic Reactions:

You can have from mild to severe reactions after being bitten by bed bugs. In some cases, similar to bee stings, you could even require medical attention.

B) Insomnia:

Being nocturnal, bed bugs wait till you sleep before unleashing themselves fully. While their bites are not painful, they can irritate, and you can wake up in the middle of the night to scratch the affected area.

If this persists, it could lead to loss of sleep, which can eventually lead to a variety of health challenges like anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, and even having difficulty focusing.

C) Infection:

It can occur when a bug bites a person, and he/she scratches the wound until germs find their way into the injury which can, in the long run, lead to illnesses.

Health Dangers of Termites to Humans

Termites, as we all know, are famous for being able to turn a beautiful home into a heap of dust within a few years. Termites are not generally known to be dangerous to humans, but can be harmful to humans in the following ways:

A) They can Bite and Sting:

If threatened or handled, a soldier termite can bite and sting. The bite is not fatal, but it can itch, swell, burn, and can be painful, especially to people with allergic reactions.

B) They Can Affect The Air Quality & Indoor Health Environment:

Termites nests in the house can release particles and clouds of dust, which can spread about through heating and air-conditioning systems. Termites saliva and droppings have also been confirmed as having disease-causing bacteria and microorganisms.

These contaminants can be specially highly irritating to those who have asthma or allergies. They are also capable of causing allergic reactions in sensitized individuals or those with compromised immune systems.

C) They Facilitate the Breeding of Mold Spores:

Termites enjoy a damp, humid environment. Molds also tend to grow in a similar situation. As termites chew through wood, they spread mold in the process. Mold is a fungus that generates spores. As spores buildup in your indoor air and thru the walls, they can be proficient in creating health problems when inhaled. Mold spores can cause weaknesses, migraine headaches, coughs, sore throats, burning eyes, runny nose, and other symptoms.

Conclusion

Every now and then, various types of pests can plague both residential and commercial areas. Some of these pests are more rampant than others, especially at a particular period of the year.

Your home will occasionally be invaded by different types of pests, no matter how careful you are. Adding to the problems of pests are the modern building techniques like using breeze blocks, stud partitioning, and primary service voids.

Often, these are perfect breeding spaces for pests, making it extremely difficult to be insulated from pests.

If you desire an environment that is clean, healthy for you and your family, and free from the menace of pests, you must strive to eliminate all types of pests from your environment at all cost.

If you’re seeing signs of bugs, rodents, or termites in your home or office, don’t let another day pass by without much needed protection. Active Termite and Pest Control, Inc offers extensive knowledge when it comes to eliminating all types of pest from your property.

Call us at 1-877-577-3787 for additional details and to get started with a free inspection and estimate.

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Their major food source is what makes them a threat to us both in California and the world over. Anywhere there is wood or decaying plant, there is a threat of termite infestation as well as the damage it leaves in its wake.

There are way over 2000 species of termite world over with colonies of each species, however in the United States there are about 40 species or more, and in California, there are over 20 species.

If we have so many of these pests around it becomes important to know about them as well as the different types that might be lurking in and around your home or commercial property.

Different types of termites in California

Homes all over California are infested with one or all of these types of termites so it is important to understand their characteristics and the kind of damages they are capable of performing in order to fight against them.

There are three major kinds of termites prevalent in California

1) Subterranean Termites

This type of termite is specially common on Long Beach, Downey, Norwalk, and all over California and can be found among dead woods, fallen trees or lumbers that are in contact with the soil. The most common and threatening species of subterranean termites is the Reticulitermes which can be found in virtually every region from coastal areas to mountain terrains even to desert areas.

2) Dry Wood Termites

With only one exception, all Dry wood termites are found where there is dry wood- this includes furniture like desks, chairs, shelves, utility poles, and even doors.

From already infested wood, they move to other nearby wooden structures and continue their destruction. These termites eat into the wood and leave holes or galleries in their wake, both destroying the surface of the wood and leaving signs of their presence. Dry wood termites are most common in Southern California and could also be found in the Coastal Valley.

3) Damp Wood Termites

These kinds of termites are usually found in moist, humid areas on the coast. They infest wet decayed wood, they create openings in the wood from where they enter, live in them and feed on them. These termites are common throughout California but due to their nature, they are found more in damp areas where they have lots of moisture to thrive.

Conclusion

It is important to look out for cracks, open spaces and contact areas between your wooden furniture and soil that would help termites find a way in.

Once you notice any of these termites or a sign of their presence, you need to get your residence examined by an experienced termite specialist who would take a look at the structure of your property and then get the necessary tools and effective strategies with which to eradicate termites from your home or commercial property.

If you’re seeing termites, droppings, holes, damaged wood, Active Termite and Pest Control, Inc offers extensive knowledge when it comes to Termite control.

Call us at 1-877-577-3787 for additional details and to get started with a free inspection and estimate.

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According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, risks posed by bed bugs in California can often cause allergies, anaphylaxis and sometimes result in Asthma attacks. Itching, blisters, swelling, and other forms of skin reactions.

They can also cause skin infections. Although bed bugs on their own do not cause skin infections, the reactions from the bite itself can cause the person to scratch the skin too hard and make the bite become infected, leading to other more serious health problems.

Bites from bed bugs sometimes cause insomnia. It could also cause anxiety disorders, stress, fear, and general body reactions.

Bed bugs have become increasingly difficult to control especially once they have entered a particular residence. They often hide in the dark and are hard to see. They have also gained resistance to a lot of pesticides and so they are an ever-increasing problem especially as they are very easy to transport from one place to another.

In case of an infestation in your home, the first thing to do is to inform your landlord about the incident. Your landlord then must carry out a bug elimination process in the house.

However, in a situation where the landlord does not take up the case, the tenant can also decide to handle the situation personally or with the help of experts in bed bug eradication.

The laws existing in California also define how things should go between tenants and landlords in case of bed bug issues.

California’s Bed Bug Laws and Habitability Requirements

Due to the worsening condition of bed bug infestation, some provisions have been made regarding rentals especially for Landlords.

First of all, landlords are not allowed to rent out a place if they are aware the unit is infested by bed bugs.

Also, landlords must inform their tenants on how to look out for infestations and also to report directly to the landlords once an infestation is suspected.

Landlords are also prohibited from mistreating tenants who report bed bug infestations or increasing their rents as a result of the situation. Landlords must also hire licensed pest control operators within two days of getting a notice from tenants.

Tenants, on the other hand, must cooperate with their landlords and pest control experts for unit inspections and in serious cases, possibly evacuate the premises.

Although there is no spelled out method of preventing this widespread bed bug infestation n California, as even the most immaculate and orderly neighborhoods, hotels and motels get infested, everyone needs to be aware of the problem and cooperate towards keeping the property clean and do regular pest control maintenance check-ups to minimize the risks of a bed bug infestation.

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Rodents carry dangerous diseases such as salmonella and typhus in addition to their contributing roles in asthma.

Cases of workers in the city being bitten by rodents are on the rise with most of them emanating from Los Angeles.

The recent study also surveyed over 20 pest control companies and got to know that all the reports of rat service requests were over 55% percent in the previous year. A study published by the pest control company Orkin named Los Angeles the second most rat-infested city, and Chicago being the first.

According to the press conference held at Los Angeles city hall, the two main reasons behind rodent explosion are:

1. Increase in the homeless population

This provides a source of food that supports population growth.

2. Ban on practices for eradicating rodents
In Los Angeles, the most effective practices for eradicating rats have been banned.

In the previous year, about three-quarters of the homeless people in Los Angeles were living outside, escalating concerns of a rise in a public health crisis with rats and garbage pile-up near homeless encampments in downtown and sidewalks.

A political group from Reform California said that the population of rodents can be controlled if not eradicated using an effective tool for pest control, but Los Angeles stopped the use of the second generation anticoagulant rodenticides in 2014 which has been claimed to cause the spike.

The report headed by DeMaio and other vector control industry leaders asked the governor to declare an emergency (public health) in the state, and public entities are required to address the situation.

It also called on the state legislative system to counter and oppose the assembly bill (1788) that seeks to stop certain rodent deterring products that use robust chemicals.

Instead of addressing the crisis, the lawmakers in California are just months away from passing the legislation that bans the best rodent control methods available with the use of less effective, so-called “green alternatives”, DeMaio Said.

Pest control agencies and companies spoke out that their hands are tied by the regulations of the government that forces them to use green pest control to eradicate rodents.

Apart from the twelve percent increase in homelessness in Los Angeles in the previous year, a dominating problem is illegal dumping. Last month, reports tell us that Los Angeles cited over 80 businesses for not having proper trash receptacles causing the problem of illegal dumping.

Recently, the Los Angeles city council allocated over $6.5 million to the Bureau of Sanitation to attend to the cost of health and hygiene services that will clean up areas that seriously needs cleaning.

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