Are House Flies Dangerous?
You wouldn't think that such a tiny pest would be a threat. In fact, most people don't. A surprising number of people have no problem eating a sandwich after a fly has been walking on it. But we're here to tell you, that just isn't very smart.
You Don't Know Where That Fly Has Been
Let's be honest. Not every fly that lands on your food is going to taint it. But, the old idiom, "You don't know where it's been," doesn't apply to flies. These dirty, mobile pests are drawn to dead carcasses, feces, the open wounds of livestock, rotting food in trash cans, and other unsavory things. These are very unsanitary insects. You need to know that there is a high probability that the fly that just crawled on your hamburger has harmful bacteria on it--bacteria that can cause you to have a fever, diarrhea, vomiting, bloodstream infections, seizures, and worse.
There's a Fly in My Soup
It might be funny to joke about flies getting into our food, but there is nothing funny about the diseases that flies can carry. Have you ever had typhoid? A normal body temperature is 98.6°F. With typhoid fever, an individual can have sustained temperatures as high as 104.6°F. That is no fun at all. Along with that miserable fever, you're likely to have stomach cramps, a headache, and possibly a rash.
How about cholera? Have you ever had that? It comes with wonderful symptoms such as dehydration, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. If there is an electrolyte imbalance, it can lead to muscle cramps and even shock. When children get cholera there is a greater chance of it leading to low blood sugar. The results can be serious symptoms such as an altered state of consciousness, seizures, shock, and coma.
Flies can carry salmonella, tuberculosis, and also the eggs of parasitic worms. Does any of that sound good? We don't think so.
What We're Not Saying
We're not saying that every time a fly lands on your food you're going to get sick. We just think it is a pretty good idea to err on the side of caution. These are dirty insects. The fewer of them you have around, the better life is going to be--and we can help you with that.
When you invest in ongoing home pest control, like our TopCare, TopCare Plus, and TopCare Complete programs, you get expert management of over 40 common pests, including flies. Your pest control technician will support you with appropriate treatments and helpful tips that will work to reduce pest populations and keep flies and other harmful pests out of your home. Reach out to us today to schedule same-day service. At Witt, we don't put up with flies.