Common Health Issues Caused by Pests and How to Prevent Them

Household pests cause health problems in three main ways: they trigger allergies and asthma, they contaminate food and surfaces with germs, and some of them spread diseases through bites or their waste. Cockroaches, rodents and mosquitoes are responsible for most of these problems in South Florida homes.

Anyone can be affected, but young children, older adults and people with asthma or weakened immune systems face the highest risk. This guide covers the five most common pest-related health issues, how each one spreads and the practical steps that protect your family.

How Pests Make People Sick

Not every pest is a health threat, and the risk depends on the pest and the person. Most health problems come from one of these routes:

• Allergens: droppings, saliva, shed skins and body parts that become household dust
• Contamination: pests walking from drains and garbage to food and countertops
• Waste: rodent urine and droppings that carry bacteria and viruses
• Bites: mosquitoes, fleas and ticks that pass germs directly into the blood

1. Asthma and Allergies From Cockroaches and Rodents

Cockroaches are one of the most important indoor asthma triggers. According to Penn State Extension, exposure to cockroach allergens has been identified as the single major factor in asthma among urban children in the northeastern United States. Their shed skins, droppings and dead bodies break down into dust that people breathe in. Mice and rats shed hair and produce waste that can trigger attacks too.

Two details make these allergens hard to escape:

• They linger. Penn State notes these allergens can remain active in a home for six months, even after the pests are gone.
• Exposure builds sensitivity. Repeated exposure can sensitize people, making allergic reactions more likely over time.

UF/IFAS also reports that German cockroaches may cause severe allergic responses. Our article on the link between cockroaches and asthma goes deeper into allergy-proofing a home.

Pest control choices matter here as well. Penn State points out that pesticide sprays and bug bombs used against roaches can also irritate the lungs, which is why baits, sealing and sanitation are preferred in homes with asthma.

2. Food Contamination and Stomach Illness

Cockroaches, flies and rodents move between garbage, drains, droppings and your kitchen. UF/IFAS states that German cockroaches physically transport and often harbor pathogenic organisms that can contaminate food, and that they soil food with their feces and defensive secretions. German cockroaches cannot survive away from people, so they live where we cook and eat.

The result can be foodborne illness, which is a special concern for small children and older adults. Read more about how cockroaches spread Salmonella and why a few roaches usually mean many more in hiding. Learn to recognize the German cockroach, a small indoor species that breeds continuously when food and water are available.

To protect food:

• Store dry goods in sealed glass or hard plastic containers.
• Do not leave dishes, pet food or open drinks out overnight.
• Throw out any food that rodents may have gotten into, as the CDC advises.
• Wipe counters and sweep floors daily, and take out garbage often.

3. Hantavirus From Rodent Droppings

Hantaviruses are carried by certain wild rodents and can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a serious lung illness. In Florida it is rare. The Florida Department of Health reports one confirmed case, a south Dade County resident hospitalized in October 1993, and surveillance has not detected new cases since.

The same investigation found a previously unknown hantavirus, named Black Creek Canal virus, in cotton rats, which are common in residential areas across Florida. In south Dade County, 13 percent of trapped cotton rats had antibodies to hantavirus.

Symptoms appear 1 to 3 weeks after exposure, starting with fever, muscle aches and fatigue. About 4 to 10 days later, cough and shortness of breath can develop, so quick medical care is important. The main risk comes from breathing dust while cleaning sheds, garages or closed buildings where rodents have nested.

4. Leptospirosis After Storms and Floods

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease spread by the urine of infected animals, including rodents. People are infected through contact with water or soil containing that urine, or by touching it directly. The CDC warns that cases can increase after hurricanes and floods, because heavy rain washes animal urine into floodwater.

That makes it a real concern in South Florida after a tropical storm. Early symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, red eyes, vomiting and diarrhea. Without treatment, it can lead to kidney or liver failure, meningitis and breathing problems.

The CDC recommends staying out of floodwater, covering cuts with waterproof bandages, wearing waterproof boots near floodwater, and controlling rodents by sealing food, water and trash in containers. For storm-season rodent problems, see rodent infestations after storms in South Florida.

5. West Nile Virus From Mosquito Bites

The Florida Department of Health reports that West Nile virus activity has been found in all 67 Florida counties since the virus arrived. The virus cycles between Culex mosquitoes and wild birds, and people are infected through mosquito bites. In Florida, the peak transmission period is July through September.

Most infected people never feel sick, but a small share become seriously ill:

Severe illness can cause high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, tremors, muscle weakness and paralysis, and some effects may be permanent. Adults over 60 and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk. For more on symptoms and protection, read West Nile virus in South Florida.

How to Clean Up Rodent Droppings Safely

The CDC states that diseases are mainly spread to people from rodents when they breathe in contaminated air. Sweeping or vacuuming dry droppings is the most common mistake because it puts tiny particles into the air. Follow the CDC’s wet-cleaning method instead:

1. Open doors and windows and let the space air out for 30 minutes before you start.
2. Put on rubber or plastic gloves.
3. Spray urine, droppings and nesting material with a general-purpose household disinfectant until very wet, following the label.
4. Let it soak for at least 5 minutes, or as long as the label directs.
5. Pick up the waste with paper towels and throw it out in a covered trash can.
6. Disinfect the surrounding surfaces, then wash your gloved hands, remove the gloves and wash your hands with soap and warm water.

Prevention: Keep Pests From Becoming a Health Problem

Health experts recommend integrated pest management: remove what pests need, block their way in, and use targeted treatments only when needed.

• Seal entry points. Close cracks and gaps around doors, windows, pipes and the foundation, and repair screens.
• Remove food and water. Store food in sealed containers, empty trash often, fix leaks and pick up pet bowls at night.
• Declutter. Store items in plastic tubs instead of cardboard boxes, which give roaches and rodents shelter.
• Drain standing water. Tip out containers after rain and cover up with an EPA-registered repellent when mosquitoes are active.
• Choose lower-risk treatments. Penn State recommends traps, tamper-resistant bait stations and gel baits over sprays and foggers in homes, and always reading the full label.

When to Call a Professional

If you see droppings, gnaw marks, live roaches in daylight or swarms of mosquitoes around the house, the pest problem is already large enough to affect your health. Toro’s rodent control service removes rats and mice with trapping and baiting, seals the openings they use and offers dropping and urine disinfecting and sanitation. For the yard, Toro’s mosquito control treats the shrubs where adults rest and the sites where they breed.

Toro Pest Management has protected homes and businesses in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Keys since 1969, with response within 24 hours, guaranteed.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Educational content. This article is for general information about pests in South Florida and is not medical, legal or professional advice. If you have a bite, sting or allergic reaction, contact your doctor; in an emergency, call 911. Pest problems vary from home to home, so a licensed professional should inspect before treatment. When using any pesticide, always read and follow the product label.

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