COVID-19 is spreading badly in time for spring as well as the pests that come with Spring like ticks and mosquitoes. Since mosquitoes and ticks go from yard to yard attacking people, they will be violating our social distancing guidelines.
The question is do these blood-sucking disease vectors spread COVID-19?
According to the World Health Organization “the new coronavirus CANNOT be transmitted through mosquito bites. To date there has been no information nor evidence to suggest that the new coronavirus could be transmitted by mosquitoes. The new coronavirus is a respiratory virus which spreads primarily through droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose.” COVID-19 can also spread by touching surfaces that an infected person touched and left the virus on.
What about ticks? According to The American Mosquito Control Association “ticks and mosquitoes are vector pests, known to play a significant role in the transmission of many critical diseases, however for a virus to pass to a person through a mosquito or tick bite, the virus must be able to replicate inside the mosquito or tick.” And apparently, ticks and mosquitoes are immune to COVID-19.
Will COVID-19 play a role in an uptick in other pests around your home?
In short, the answer is yes. With people spending more time in their homes and yards, they will notice more pest activity. Chief among the pests that will be noticed more are rodents. Since a lot of restaurants are either closed or limited in the services they offer, there is a decline in food scraps from restaurant dumpsters. This can cause a big issue since rats rely on that as a food source, as theses scraps start to decrease, rats will do whatever is necessary to find food and survive. There have been videos streaming lately showing rats foraging in the streets during the day due to the lack of food in their usual “go-to” spots. With more people cooking from home, and placing take-out and delivery orders, this means our garbage cans and homes can become the new “go-to” spot. Eventually rats can potentially make their way into your garbage can or kitchen.
Rodents are not the only pests that rely on surplus food waste, we also have flies and cockroaches. Both insects love garbage, spread pathogens, and cockroaches can even cause respiratory issues.
What can you do to help prevent a potential insect or rat infestation?
- reduce indoor garbage take it out regularly
- keep dishes, sinks, and counter tops clean
- keep garbage cans away from windows and doors
- do not leave boxes inside, bring it out and away from home
- make sure not to miss a garbage pickup even if your cans are less than half full
- use your extra time at home to seal any gaps, cracks, and crevices around your home
- anything more than 1/8th of an inch for insects, 1/4 inch for mice, and 1/2 inch for rats
And remember Guardian Pest Control is an essential business and we remain open to help reduce health hazards by eliminating these disease spreading pests. Call Guardian to schedule an inspection, or to get a free quote today!
