World Pest Day – mosquitos, flies and fumigation
Pest control differs from fumigation and targets pests like cockroaches, rats and fish moths.
For Netcare 911 Paramedics spokesperson Shawn Herbst, the most common pests affecting South Africans are mosquitoes and flies.
“Mosquitos seems to be such a huge issue here in Durban, especially with the amount of rain we’ve had – there’s been water pooling in low-lying areas, and mosquitos have gone wild,” he said.
Symptoms include itchiness and redness at the site of the bite, which usually resides naturally, although antihistamine creams can be used for extreme cases.
“Prevention is better than a cure. Long clothing will definitely help,” said Herbst.
Another prevalent issue is raw sewage which can lead to a number of ailments carried by flies.
“Mosquitos come into contact with skin, but with flies it’s different – they don’t have stingers to come into contact with humans, but what they do is leave bacteria and viruses on cooking utensils or food which humans consume and then become infected,” said Herbst.
He said there are a range of illnesses that can arise, although dysentery or gastroenteritis are the most common.
Fumigation and safety
Last year, after the tragic passing of a Durban couple, the importance of responsible pest control and fumigation was highlighted.
At the time, Moses Chetty, vice-president of the Pest Control Federation of South Africa (PCFSA), differentiated between fumigation and pest control, saying the latter is targeted at removing general pests like cockroaches, rats and fish moths. Chetty said a pesticide spray is used for situations where pest control is needed.
For Durban residents, a common household ‘pest’ is the wood borer which is often addressed through fumigation.
Chetty cautioned the public to be aware of responsible fumigation procedures. He said one cannot fumigate a single unit in a block of flats using a fumigant unless the entire block is evacuated and sealed with a tent.
- Verify pest-control companies online by visiting the South African Pest Control Association website, https://sapca.org.za, or the Pest Control Federation of South Africa website, https://pcfsa.co.za
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Paramedics share safety tips
Herbst also shared a few safety tips, saying fumigation will not necessarily leave an odour, however, there are bodily signs that could indicate unsafe contaminants in the air.
According to Herbst, exposure to fumigants could produce the following symptoms:
- A burning sensation in the mouth, nose and eyes.
- Nausea, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhoea and chest pain.
- Dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, incoherent speech and difficulty in breathing due to fluid build-up in the lungs.
- Liquid and solid pesticides can cause injury to the skin, which in certain incidents can enter the bloodstream, causing systemic effects.
“All of the above symptoms are not exclusive and would depend on the level of inhalation – mild, moderate or severe,” explained Herbst.
“Depending on the chemical agent used, symptoms will not always be noticeable,” he added.
- When assisting someone who has been exposed to fumigants, call Fire and Rescue Services immediately as well as paramedics. Netcare 911 Paramedics – 082 911. Fire and Rescue Services – 031 361 0000.
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