Fleas, Lice and Other Pests

In addition to mosquitos, pyrethroid pesticides help control other insects that spread infectious and sometimes fatal diseases. While some of these illnesses were common in the Middle Ages, they have recently resurged in the United States.

‍Disturbing news reports from Los Angeles and Denver describe outbreaks of Typhus and Trench Fever, both of which often require hospitalization and long courses of antibiotics. 

Pests such as bed bugs, ticks, fleas, fire ants, and lice are not only nuisance creatures that cause itching, but they can also be poisonous or carry bacteria that cause diseases like:

• The Plague, which killed 1/3 of the European population in the 1300s, is also carried by fleas and is endemic to the southwestern US.
• Typhus can spread to humans from bacteria found in infected mites, fleas, lice or mice
• Trench Fever is more commonly diagnosed in homeless populations, or in conditions where good hygiene is difficult
• Lyme Disease: A growing problem, nearly 35,000 cases of tick-borne Lyme disease are reported to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) every year.
• Asthma: Allergens from cockroaches have been known to be a cause of asthma in children, especially for those living in inner cities
• Fatal Bites and Stings: Pyrethroids protect against pests such as fire ants and wasps, which can potentially cause fatal allergic reactions.