All posts in “CDC”

What is the #1 insect related cause of work place deaths in the U.S.

4383 fatal work injuries in 2012 actually down from 2011 which had 4693- topping the list and transportation incidents led the way.

Bees are number one on the list U.S. Labor Department reports. “Bee stings are behind most insect -related deaths for workers.”

 

Work related

Work related

 

 

 

 

 

 

So a word or two of caution to all of you who trim trees, work in fields or right-of-ways – always know your surroundings. Be diligent and check out what is around or near you, check out the rocks or culverts just as if it were electric lines etc.

 

Bee Safe!

Plague and you, what to do?

Plague and you

So we interact with animals occasionally and we need to know how and when to react?  If your doing any work at a cabin up north and/or around your home, I always suggest gloves. With Valley Fever I also suggest a dust mask because you never know what you might kick up in the air.

Second New Mexico plague case reported”  “4 cases of Plague in Colorado” Maybe you are doing some work in your attic or crawlspace and you find something, how and what do you do?

As I mentioned wear gloves and a mask as a precaution, if you are cleaning and you notice feces – stop and follow guidelines for that type of cleanup. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) http://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/plague/factsheet.asp

1152_resized

 

 

 

Always better to be safe than sorry, take precautions and follow the guidelines on cleaning or if you see rodents on your property. Also Poison Control  1-800-222-1222 may have additional information on these topics.

CDC_247

CDC reported cases of Lyme disease by state

 

CDC reported cases of Lyme disease by state or locality, 2003-2012

 

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks; laboratory testing is helpful if used correctly and performed with validated methods. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, removing ticks promptly, applying pesticides, and reducing tick habitat. The ticks that transmit Lyme disease can occasionally transmit other tickborne diseases as well. Check out the CDC site for more information.

Now I want to share something I thought was interesting – I tried to join a certain Arizona Lyme Disease yahoo forum and was denied. They claim that I tried to join before and I don’t recall but I thought they might be interested in possibly preventing the disease with these new tick boxes.  So there you go!

http://www.tickboxtcs.com/Select_TCS_Brochure.pdf

ticks

Bait Box Study by CDC

My Top 5 non-bug home seals

[aio_button align=”center” animation=”flash” color=”red” size=”medium” icon=”pencil” text=”Professional Blogger” target=”_blank” url=”/about-the-home seal/”]

 

I’ll bet you probably only thought that I read bug home seals, but no and here are my Top 5.

  1. Poison Control – http://aapcc.wordpress.com/
  2. Centers for Disease Control – http://home seals.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/
  3. Frugal Dad Blog – http://frugaldad.com/
  4. American Legion Post 107 – http://www.alpost107.wordpress.com
  5. Successful Blogger – http://www.successful-home seal.com/

Is there Lyme Disease in Arizona? YES!

 

According to CDC surveillance statistics, only 52 cases of Lyme disease have been reported in Arizona in the past 10 years. These statistics may be misleading. Reported cases reflect the “tip of the iceberg,” or only a fraction of the true cases. The CDC states there are approximately 30,000 reported cases of Lyme in the US, and acknowledges that it is under-reported by 10 fold.  This means that there are a minimum of 200,000 cases in the US that meet the CDC standard of diagnosis.

There are over 25 species of ticks in Arizona that may carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Tularemia, Babesia and tick fever, as well as Lyme disease. If the tick that bites you is infected, it can inject Lyme bacteria into your bloodstream within hours of attachment. The bacteria can  also invade your brain and nervous system in less than 24 hours.

There is a Arizona Lyme Disease Association and is there an answer – YES. As with any wildlife issue, there will almost always be a bug problem. Wildlife can be cute and can also carry diseases and parasites. So why not prevent the issue without harming the wildlife. How is this possible you say? Brochure Tick Control

Mouse

The mice or ground squirrels enter the box, feed on the non-toxic food and get a combing of fipronil on their fur. They can then carry this back to nest-mates and it absorbs into their skin, killing ticks or fleas that bite and suck their blood.

Here is another article “Lyme Disease in the U.S. is 10-times underreported.”

Certified Installers by State

My Top 3 reasons why you need pest control, or do you?

 

Pest control isn’t always needed at your home, but if you have issues you can either take care of it yourself or hire a Professional. I have written numerous home seals that categorically point out the advantages of hiring a pro for that job. There are those that believe that no matter the circumstance, it isn’t necessary to hire a professional. Here are the facts as I see them:

  1. You may need experience and expertise.
  2. Remember Bubonic Plague, Hanta Virus and other diseases are still present in the U.S. – “Rabbit test positive for Tularemia in Pueblo West, CO.”
  3. Not every job can be accomplished by stepping on the bug.

CDC issues a Health Alert for Bed Bug pesticides.

CDC issues a Health Alert for Bed Bug pesticides.

 

Health Concerns About the Misuse of Pesticides for Bed Bug Control” As a member of PESP I wanted to share this, It  is a must read article on scams and pesticide use for Bed Bugs! Also here is some additional information they have posted in that article.

Important phone numbers and Web sites

If you believe you or a family member has become ill from a pesticide exposure:

Call your local poison control center: 1-800-222-1222, your local hospital emergency room, or the National Pesticide Information Center at 1-800-858-7378.  You can also call the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  Information Line at 1-800-CDC-INFO for information about pesticides.

If you believe your pet has become ill from a pesticide exposure:

Contact your local veterinarian or call the National Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435.

I will add one more important item from my list – Before hring anyone check them out: Within the last week I have had an opportunity to bid against someone who quoted a price of $150 for a 3 bedroom house – my price was over $1000. I also believe that they intended to only use pesticides – it is my opinion that this will not work in all circumstances and again I also believe it is important for people to understand about the use of pesticides within homes.

The Battle Wages ON against Bed Bugs…

The Battle Wages ON against Bed Bugs…

 

The EPA, CDC,  USDA and ProBest Pest Management all agree that bed bugs are a public health pest.  Many have experienced the lawsuits, legislation, and desperation that these insects can cause.

Know your enemy.  Several years into their resurgence and bed bugs are showing no signs of retreat.  There is no magic bullet, no quick fix.  But there are effective weapons and IPM strategies that can defeat this pest. Clutter gives these critters the hiding places they need to survive and sanitation is the key to a successful treatment protocol.

This. Means. War.

 

There are many options available these days to the Pest Management Professional, (such as the Verifi monitoring and detection device) so please don’t panic and consider your options when choosing a professional to handle your Bed Bug issues.

Contact Us