Can the Coronavirus Disease Spread Through Pest Infestations?

The first thing you should do if you discover you have a pest infestation is to call the local pest control firm. You can and should find out more about your local experts before you actually need their services. 

Pests are always a nuisance and need to be dealt with. But, with the current COVID-19 crisis, it’s understandable that people are more concerned about pest infestations and the risks they propose. It’s already common knowledge that rats carried the plague, a pandemic that killed thousands of people. It seems logical to question whether pests can carry the coronavirus.

If you have a rodent infestation click here for help getting it sorted.

COVID-19

COVID-19 is a strain of coronavirus, these types of viruses were first identified in 1960 and are the same group of viruses that cause the common cold and flu. Each of these viruses can be transmitted between people when they contact the body fluids of each other. This includes the tiny droplets that you breathe out, which can be inhaled by someone else. These droplets also settle on surfaces, anyone touching the surface can pick up the virus, which then infects them when they touch their face. Hence the importance of not touching your face!

The difference with COVID-19 is that it originates in an animal and has jumped from animal to human. Consuming an infected animal or being in direct contact with it are the most likely points of origin. 

Pest Transmission

The good news is that pests do not carry or transmit COVID-19. The most common pests in the warmer months are flies and mosquitoes. These are referred to as vector pests and are responsible for transmitting a variety of diseases to humans. But, they cannot transmit COVID-19, you don’t need to be worried about these types of pests anymore than you usually would.

Of course, research is ongoing into COVID-19 and it is possible that more information will come to light to help you protect yourself against this potentially deadly infection. But, this is unlikely to affect the news that the virus cannot be transmitted by pests.

Rodent Issues 

It should be noted that while rodents can spread the coronavirus, there has been a surge in their numbers and sightings. This is directly connected to the lockdowns imposed by many countries and the fact that restaurants and other food establishments are temporarily closed. The rodents have needed to find alternative food sources and that means targeting homes and other places they wouldn’t normally go to.

They are adept at survival and facing their own challenges during the pandemic. It’s essential to be alert for their presence and contact pest control to eliminate infestations as fast as possible. They don’t spread COVID-19 but they are still undesirable. 

Maintaining strict hygiene standards will keep pests out of your home and will help to reduce the likelihood of you developing COVID-19. In fact, this is the best way, along with social distancing, to beat the virus permanently and return to ‘normality’.