During the medieval period, the Black Death was considered to be one of the most devastating plagues that wiped out a good percentage of the inhabitants of Europe and Central Asia. The main culprit was pests that were inadvertently transported by ships. If this is the case during a time where the global human population was only a fraction of what it was today, what more now?
Based on these facts, it is only paramount that we employ the services of a professional pest control service.
Why Is Pest Control Essential
There’s a stark difference between a pandemic that occurred in the medieval times and one in the modern era. As such, it’s only appropriate that we look into the facts on how a pandemic could be affecting us in a contemporary perspective.
So how does pest control influence disease prevention? Here’s what we found:
Disease Prevention
While there is a global emergency healthcare crisis that is happening, most business and commercial facilities will need to be closed down. Naturally, the fewer people out and about, the less likely there is any form of transmission between individuals. But since most businesses are being closed down, that can leave most places devoid of any kind of activities.
Since there’s not going to be that much foot traffic in these types of areas, pests can breed without any form of disturbances. Not only will they damage the structural integrity of buildings, but they can also gnaw on food products, which can compromise supply stocks.
But other than causing economic damage to safely kept stocks of supplies, pests are also known for being health risks. After all, if rodents were the leading cause of the Black Death, they can transmit virulent and highly contagious diseases to several parts of the community.
While we can’t confirm that rodents can be a carrier for several virulent agents, but we know that pests can be carriers of other contagious diseases. Therefore, it’s always a good practice to keep our buildings clean and free from pests, using services such as termite treatment, even if there is no human interaction.
Protecting Structural Integrity
While there are pests that usually target food supplies, such as rodents and flies, there are pests that feed off other food sources. For herbivores like termites, they are more inclined to eating wood and plant matter. For homes, termites can be detrimental to the foundation of your home.
While some termites do not primarily feed on wood, a good percentage of structural damage is from termites. Exterminating a fully-fledged termite nest might be harder than expected, which is why it’s essential to look for early signs of an infestation.
Here are some of the early signs that you should look out for:
- Look for small tubes of mud that are located near your floorings. Usually, on your front porch of the exterior side of your wall, you might see mud tubes. Subterranean termites typically cause that. Although they don’t have the same voracious appetite as dry wood termites, they can still gnaw away at your home’s much-needed structural support.
- In most cases, you will see gnaw marks on wooden beams and surfaces. However, some species of termites will leave the majority of the wooden structure intact while the interior might become hallow. Knocking on the wood surface with your hand will help you determine if it’s hollow or not. A more audible sound cue will mean that the interior might be hollow compared to a more “fuller” thud.
- Often, wooden surfaces will be painted on. If you see that there is uneven paint or it seems like it’s bubbling, this is a clear giveaway that termites have damaged the wooden structure.
It’s also essential noting that swarming can happen during warmer seasons, especially during spring when humidity is at an all-time high. While swarming might seem like an annoyance at first, it is a sign that an infestation has reached to the point that it can spread towards neighboring areas if left unchecked. When it comes to swarms and mature nest, it’s always an excellent choice to commission the services of pests controllers that specialize in termite treatment.
Just like any other services that specialize in sanitizing and cleaning facilities, pest control services are considered to be an essential job. Pests such as cockroaches, flies, rodents, and even birds can come in contact with surfaces and will sometimes compromise food supplies. While there’s no evident and apparent connection with the current pandemic and how these insects and small creatures will serve as modes of transmission towards humans, they can still spread other diseases.
Even during a time of public health crisis, it is always important to keep a clean environment by eliminating any possible carriers. Not only will pests spread diseases, but they can also be a detriment to our structures.
