Flying & Crawling Insect Control

Dangers & Disease Associated With Insects In The UK

The main concerns in the UK are fleas, ticks, houseflies and cockroaches. Rat fleas are infamous for having spread the virulent strain of the bubonic plague that wiped out an estimated 40% of the UK population in the 14th century. There were several plague outbreaks that were classed as epidemics over a three hundred-year period, the most famous of which being “The Black Death”. Thankfully though, there hasn’t been a case of the plague in Britain for a century. The concerns with fleas in this day and age are Typhus and “Cat Scratch Fever” (Bartonellosis) so named because it is caused by fleas who infect felines who can then pass it to you through a scratch, bite, or lick near an open wound. Typhus can also be carried by ticks and will present with a fever, rash, abdominal pain and aching joints.

Neither is deadly and both tend to be uncommon, particularly in the UK, so you shouldn’t worry too much about cuddling up with Felix or Mittens.

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Ticks are vectors of various strains of bartonellosis, Lyme disease and babesiosis. Both bartonellosis and babesiosis can infect animals and humans, with varying symptoms. In the elderly or immunosuppressed individuals, babesiosis can be deadly without quick medical intervention. The most distinctive symptom is blood in the urine, which is where Red Water Fever, a strain of babesiosis which affects cattle, gets its name. Lyme disease affects as many as 3000 people in the UK every year, with an estimated 15% of cases occurring after becoming infected whilst abroad. It can be identified in the early stages by a red or pink rash shaped like a “bull’s-eye,” with a raised centre and a large ring around it. A third of people will not experience this symptom, so it’s not possible to immediately discount Lyme disease if the other flu-like symptoms are present. If you know you’ve been bitten by a tick and are feeling at all unwell, it’s highly recommended that you seek medical advice, as a strong round of antibiotics are required to kill off the disease.

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Unlike fleas and ticks, you don’t need to worry about being bitten, scratched or stung by these flies or cockroaches. They infect humans by dragging themselves through filthy environments, picking up bacteria and depositing it onto your food. In this way, they can be vehicles for a range of diseases including salmonella, typhoid, gastroenteritis, dysentery and even tuberculosis. With the exception of tuberculosis, which is identified by a persistent hacking cough, all of these diseases present with some variation of intense stomach cramps, vomiting and often diarrhoea. Both salmonella and gastroenteritis are extremely common in the UK and most people are likely to suffer from one or both on occasion throughout their lives. Houseflies and cockroaches may not be the only vectors of these diseases, but a heavy infestation of either of them in your home or business will radically increase your chances of contracting them.

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If you're concerned about pests in your property, Esmad offer an emergency out of hours service. Our engineers work throughout the evening and weekends. Call us today on 0800 107 8741 to book your appointment.