All posts in “West Nile Virus”

World Pest Awareness Day

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World Pest Awareness Day

World Pest Awareness Day – June 6th, 2017. The goal is to create awareness with citizens all over the world. Pest managers provide protection for food, home, family, the environment in which they live, against public health risks. In agreement with the National Pest Management Association of the U.S.. NPMA joins the Federation of Asian & Oceania Pest Managements Association (FAOPMA), Chinese Pest Control Association and the Confederation of European Pest Management Associations (CEPA) in support of this event.

The video below brings home the need for public health pest control by comparing some fascinating statistics. In the opening sequence the audience is asked what do you think is the world’s deadliest creature? Sharks we are told kill 12 people a year, grizzly bears 90 people, crocodiles 800, hippos 29,000 people, snakes 90,000 people. But that tiny mosquito kills 2 million people. Mosquitoes are linked to water because that is where their young develop and that is also the best place to exterminate them. Mosquitoes are the vector (carrier) of several BAD diseases. They include Malaria, Yellow Fever, Encephalitis including West Nile virus and other equine, Zika virus, Dengue Fever, Chikungunya and dog heartworm.

Diseases

Don’t forget that any blood feeder may spread disease, such as fleas and ticks. Bed bugs at this moment are not known to spread any diseases but more research is needed to verify. So please take precautions if traveling or hiking in areas where these pests can attack. Remember to also inspect your home for possible sightings and for possible entry points. Just a simple fix to a screen or doorway (IPM) might prevent pests from getting in and possibly hurting our family or colleagues. As always if you need help or assistance please give ProBest Pest Management a call at 602-249-7378.

https://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dvbd/pdf/dvbd_factsheet.pdf

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr06dMFlRa4[/embedyt]

Why do they allow import of old used tires?

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How often do you think a new bug makes it to our shores? Have you ever thought how did that bug make it into the USA? Sometimes we make it easy for the bug to travel, like when you move from one state on the east coast to the west and you bring boxes which were in storage. We brought Mongoose to Hawaii for the rats and that didn’t work, nobody thought about the rat being nocturnal and the Mongoose is out during the day. Asian Tiger Mosquitoes (carries viruses like Dengue & West Nile) were accidentally introduced in tires brought in from China in 1985, the Black rat probably hitched a ride on early European ships, Asian Longhorned Beetle native to Asia and the Cotton Whitefly came from India.

Photo provided by PPMA

Thanks to all our Border Agents tasked with checking and rechecking all those shipments.

The war on bugs, whose winning?

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“Entomologists study ways to kill urban pests” Why is this important, I’ll point out some remarks made in this story. Please read the story lots of great information.

“There is definitely an economic impact to bed bug infestation,” Romero said.
Psychological effects are often underestimated. Romero said having bed bugs can cause sleeplessness and anxiety.
There is concern over chemicals in insecticides that could be harmful to humans, but Romero said they must be used properly and according to procedures.

Here are some factors that I see and read daily.

Hanta Virus (weekly reports)
Bubonic Plague
WNV (West Nile Virus) from mosquitoes also Malaria or Dengue Fever from around the world
Africanized Bees
Ticks (Lyme Disease)
Assassin bugs (Chagas Disease)

So as we continue the fight against those bugs/insects/pests that can kill us if not kept in check, new manufacturing continues to create new molecules to destroy those killers. What can you do?

Check your home monthly.
Keep trees and shrubs trimmed and away from your house.
Repair screens and keep doors closed.
When traveling – keep an eye out for various bugs like Bed Bugs.
If you encounter a pest, do some investigation and have it checked – don’t panic.

Promoting the proper use and handling of pesticides

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I ran across some great information (BASF ran a home seal) and wanted to pass it along as it pertains to all you Do IT Yourselfers (DIY) pest control folks. The pest control industry is regulated and yes, I know there are some out there that just can’t seem to be honest and ethical about it. The use of pesticides – read the Label and understand before you use it, the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) or (MSDS) and all use directions.

So here is the homeowner site from “Pesticide Environmental Stewardship” site. You know my stance on the use of pesticides, they are essential to our lives. There are some that would argue and honestly I’m sorry that they just don’t understand the big picture. Without pesticides death would constantly be knocking at our doors. I’m not kidding we often hear of Hanta Virus and Bubonic Plague here in Arizona. Even West Nile Virus (WNV) rears its ugly head occasionally and in others states Lyme Disease. There are some that advocate oils and organics (if you want to argue – put your money where your mouth is and send me some to test – has to be labelled for scorpions) but they in general just don’t hold up long enough. If my tests are proved wrong I’ll tell you about it. We have scorpions in Arizona and in a perfect world we could exclude homes and do other things to keep them out and by the way we do that with home-seals. But not everyone has that kind of money, wish they did. I advocate Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and prefer to do our work from outside (trying to limit the amount of pesticides within homes and if possible outside as well).

Don’t get me wrong here; I don’t advocate power spraying unless there is a need. We do it every once in a while on ticks but if possible we recommend that the pets to get properly treated and try to solve the issues to the benefit of our customers. That is the reason why we are members of PESP and QualityPro, to protect and serve our customers from the bugs that might be harmful and nasty.

Beware the Bite, how mosquitoes can be a real problem?

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They bite and cause all sorts of disease so what can you do to prevent problems? This man in Arkansas “Bitten by Bugs: man becomes part of scary WNV statistic”. I’m amazed constantly about people wanting to ban all pesticides, we just need to be cautious and use them in a manner consistent to their labeling.

Here in Arizona I see issues with ticks, bed bugs, assassin bugs and mosquitoes, so what can we do for mosquitoes?

Be Aware of stagnant pools in your area.
If the water doesn’t move it can get mosquitoes, so check areas like flower vases or drainage areas.
Shut your doors and screen your windows.
If you have areas that dry out but occasionally fill with water and it is difficult to treat, use mosquito dunks – the only product with BTI, a bacteria toxic only to mosquito larvae, that lasts 30 days and treats 100 square feet of surface water. The best time to treat for msoquitoes is when they are the water.
Where repellent when outside and/or dress accordingly.

These little suckers transmit some nasty stuff…

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These little suckers transmit some nasty stuff…

Nearly one million people die of malaria every year, mostly infants, young children, and pregnant women, and most of them in Africa. An estimated 50 to 100 million people contract dengue each year in over 100 countries. West Nile virus first emerged in the Western Hemisphere in 1999 in the New York City area and has since spread across the United States. The virus is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes.

Ingenuity Abounds in pest control

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Ingenuity Abounds in pest control!

OK we are a week away from the end of all time, the Mayan calendar says December 21, 2012 is the end. So what do you think? I guess we will all know it next Saturday. So what exactly is pest control all about – my personal opinion is that we are the Protectors of Public Health. Just like the crab above, we have to adapt to the change and continue our quest to challenge ourselves. So ingenuity needs to advance as the potential of bugs also expands. Remember the article on Stink bugs, they have spread across the US since the 1990’s and I don’t think this is the end of the invasion of the bugs. New pesticides and termiticides continue to be created to prevent damage and death. New techniques and equipment are being invented and ProBest Pest Management continues to investigate the possibility of use.

What you don’t know – could KILL you!

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What you don’t know – could KILL you!

I love home seals, you can get information in a manner that is easy to read and categorized to whatever genre you want or need. For example this home seal tries to relate the stories that might influence you daily about bugs, obviously you don’t come to this home seal to learn about food or restaurants. I glean the stories from the internet that I think could affect us in our day to days lives. Examples – http://naturalunseenhazards.wordpress.com/ this home seal is for people like wildlife professionals, hunters, camper and hikers; I also enjoy reading this home seal http://www.successful-home seal.com/ it gives me assistance in writing and topics; I also try to stop by http://www.pestcemetery.com each week because my friend Jerry Schappert writes about pest control. So why all the who ha, because within the last month several stories scared me to death almost?

Hantavirus outbreak at Yosemite National Park

Second case of bubonic plague in the West has been confirmed — in a girl in Colorado

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 2012 has been the worst year for the West Nile virus since 2003.

Your Pest Control company is the front line to keeping those bugs that could harm you at bay – maybe we should have a “Pest Control Technician Day” or “Hug your Technician Day”.

Specialized foaming treatment home sealing

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Update and official notice of my Specialized foaming treatment and home sealing…

This is just a reminder of my Specialized foaming treatment and home sealing:

I started home sealing in 2009, I use specialized foaming treatments and home sealing and telling my stories of the critters I may have come in contact with and because I enjoy it and want to pass along my knowledge of pests.
Many people are good at what they do, I don’t change my own brakes because I don’t know anything about car repair – but I know bugs and I’m very good at it.
This home seal is intended for my customers and anyone else interested in professional pest management.
I tend to pass along information as it occurs in the real world, when someone uses to many bug bombs, or uses a blowtorch to get rid of webs, or the spread of various diseases within a vector like mosquitoes or fleas takes place – such as like Hanta Virus, West Nile Virus etc.
Your home shifts and moves throughout the day, home sealing helps to cover those cracks and crevices that development over time. This also helps save air conditioning or heating costs. The jtrim under the stucco moves as well, foundation and jtrim move away from each other and that allows scorpions access into your home or business.
Have you ever looked in your attic, how much insulation is in there? Are there dropping or open louver doors or windows, there should be a screen in place. Just adding some new insulation may help heating and cooling costs, and advise you of any potential pests issues like birds, bats or critters.
I consider myself a Public Health Pest Management Professional and here to assist you in keeping your family safe from the bugs and pests.

Specialized foaming treatment

Who takes the heat on pesticides?

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Who takes the heat on pesticides?

It’s difficult for me to side any other way than to say Pesticides are good! Many will disagree but the fact is that pesticides have saved countless lives throughout history. I was reminded of this through my distributor “Univar Environmental Services” in a story they posted in their monthly newsletter.

When mosquitoes are controlled, you help prevent West Nile Virus transmission.

When products help ensure proper termite control, they save you from massive property damage.

Helping to keep cockroach allergens at bay lowers asthma triggers for children.

And fewer ticks and rodents can mean less Lyme disease and Hanta Virus.

It all adds up to Univar supplying both the products and services to help you improve your customers’ environments.