Common Diseases from Bugs

Image via Flickr by Deanster1983 who’s mostly off

Insects such as house flies and mosquitoes are well known to carry a host of disease-causing pathogens. In Michigan, they also happen to be some of the most significant pests of concern medically, alongside ticks, fleas, and bedbugs.

This article lists some of the most common diseases from bugs in Michigan:

Housefly Diseases

Research suggests that houseflies are responsible for causing over 65 illnesses that affect humans. Some of them include cholera, dysentery, typhoid, poliomyelitis, and anthrax. They constantly pick up the pathogens linked to these illnesses from the environment. When they rest, they often vomit and defecate, so imagine it was your food. Anytime they land, they only take seconds to turn clean, hygienic food into a bacteria hive.

Make sure to take measures against letting these bugs near your home. The most effective method of doing so is screening your doors and windows.

Malaria

Mosquitoes host a malaria-causing parasite called plasmodium. This disease is transmitted through a bite from infected female anopheles mosquitos and can be fatal if left untreated. It comes with fever, chills, loss of appetite, and flu-like symptoms. Around 2,000 cases of malaria occur in the US annually.

Plague

Plague is a highly infectious disease caused by fleas carrying the Yersinia pestis. It is usually found in small mammals affected by fleas too. Humans can get infected through the bite of infected fleas or via direct contact with infected materials.

Sleeping Sickness

Also known as Trypanosomiasis, this disease occurs in two stages. In the first stage, the Trypanosoma protozoa stay in the lymphatic system, where it feeds on blood. During the second, the parasite spreads to the central nervous system. This stage is known as the neurological phase.

Lyme Disease

Although ticks mostly affect animals, they can host some diseases that affect humans. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease reported in the United States. Typical symptoms include fever, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, and a characteristic skin rash that follows a bull’s eye pattern. The disease can spread to joints and the nervous system if left untreated.

Other diseases that ticks can cause include Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, and the Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF).

Preventing Bug Diseases

If you already have an infestation in your home, there’s only little you can do to stop bugs. However, there are many actions you can take to reduce the threat of being infected by them. Some of them include

• Maintain proper food hygiene- House flies mostly transmit pathogens to humans through the food we ingest.
• Eliminate their breeding sites- You can discourage mosquitoes from living around your home by draining or changing standing water on your property.

Many bugs carry a host of disease-causing pathogens responsible for several common illnesses such as cholera, typhoid, malaria, and Lyme disease. Although the bugs are only vectors or hosts of the pathogens, they don’t have to take multiple bites to take effect.

You can protect yourself and your home from these diseases by preventing these bugs from infiltrating your home and observing proper hygiene. Better still, contact a professional pest control company to get help against bugs.

Bug Problem in Michigan?

If you have a fly or ant infestation in Michigan, consider contacting a professional. Michigan is lucky not to have a lot of pests that cause dangerous diseases. This doesn’t mean that they’re not a nuisance, though. Solidified Pest Control is your Metro Detroit pest control expert. We have the knowledge and techniques you need to get rid of ants, spiders, flies, bedbugs, or any other pest. We serve all of Metro Detroit and its pest control needs. We have customers in Redford, Westland, Livonia, Plymouth, Garden City, Farmington Hills, Troy, and Novi, Michigan. Contact us for a free quote today at (248) 820-3057. You can also fill out our online form, and a friendly representative will reach out to you.