The Importance of Pest Control

29 Aug The Importance of Pest Control

Pest control has a very rich history globally. Long before there was any mention of integrated pest management (IPM) or pest control, there was some recognition of disease-producing insects. According to Jerome Goddard, author of “The Physician’s Guide to Arthropods of Medical Importance”, ancient Babylonians worshipped a god of pestilence, represented by the image of a two-winged fly. It led to the belief that they must have understood a connection between flies and disease. [1]

The Bible’s Old Testament records of the plagues the Egyptians faced is another account of arthropod-borne diseases, according to Goddard. For example, the third plague, recorded as “lice” in the King James version was possibly Culicoides midges. These were responsible for transmitting the contributory agents of African horse sickness and bluetongue to Egyptian livestock. [2]

Traditional pest control as we know it is believed to have some of its origins during the early Middle Ages (500-1100 A.D.). This came because of efforts to eliminate rats.

There is much more evidence pointing to the origin of medical and public health issues and efforts to cure or solve them, particularly surrounding arthropods.

While there is so much more we can delve into to unearth the rich history of this fantastic industry, what we really want to focus on in this article is its importance. Why is pest control important?

For starters, effective pest management focuses on reducing the spread of pest-related viruses and diseases. Along with being incredibly unsightly, pests like rodents (particularly rats and mice), cockroaches, mosquitoes, and flies carry a host of bacteria.

Rodents can cause serious property damage from their constant gnawing alone. Additionally, they carry Hantavirus salmonella and a host of other diseases that can be transmitted through their feces or urine. Now, you may say that you’d never intentionally ingest rodent poop or urine (hopefully), but that’s not the primary way these deadly diseases spread. People can breathe in hantavirus. This happens when rodent urine and droppings containing hantavirus are stirred up into the air.  [3]

Varying forms of gastroenteritis (food poisoning, dysentery, diarrhea, and other illnesses) are arguably the primary diseases German cockroaches transmit. The organisms responsible for these diseases are carried on the legs and bodies of German cockroaches and are then deposited on just about anything they crawl over. Their feces and cast skins themselves contain lots of allergens that trigger a variety of allergic responses including asthma.

Understanding the various risks involved in uncontrolled pest exposure, pest control is essential in ensuring public health and safety. This comes as pest management professionals utilize industry-standard tools, methods, and products to safely yet effectively manage disease-carrying and spreading pests.

[1] https://www.pctonline.com/article/pct1212-origins-pest-control/#:~:text=The%20first%20official%20pest%20control,and%20chemical%20compounds%20they%20invented.

[2] https://www.pctonline.com/article/pct1212-origins-pest-control/#:~:text=The%20first%20official%20pest%20control,and%20chemical%20compounds%20they%20invented.

[3] https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/pdf/hps_brochure.pdf