8 Diseases Mosquitoes and Ticks Can Spread at Businesses

Blood-sucking pests like ticks and mosquitoes are more than a nuisance — they can be a health risk. And they don’t just wreak havoc in your backyard; they can also affect your business.

The truth of the matter is that mosquitoes and ticks can actually spread diseases to your employees and customers. Learn the need-to-know information about the risks they could pose, as well as how to help minimize their activity on your property.

Mosquito and Tick Risks

Mosquitoes and ticks are both public health pests and vector pests. As public health pests, they can transmit diseases reportable to and tracked by the CDC, and as vector pests, they are able to transfer diseases to humans. This means that mosquitoes and ticks are not simply annoying pests because of their bites – they are pests that should not be ignored, given their potential to possibly cause more serious health problems.

Mosquitoes can transmit diseases such as:

1. Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) – Aches and fever are symptoms of EEE, which can also cause brain infections.

2. Malaria – Signs of possible Malaria are fever, vomiting and diarrhea.

3. West Nile virus – Symptoms of West Nile virus can be aches, rashes, severe headaches and fever.

4. Dengue fever – Vomiting, rashes and a fever are common signs of Dengue fever. Another symptom is severe headache.

5. Zika virus – Along with a fever and itching rash, Zika virus can also cause joint and muscle pain.

Ticks can transmit diseases like:

1. Lyme disease – Signs of Lyme disease include fatigue and joint pain. Sometimes Lyme disease can even cause brain inflammation.

2. Rocky Mountain spotted fever – Symptoms can include fever, aches and vomiting. Sometimes these symptoms are accompanied by neurological changes.

3. Colorado tick fever – Fever, muscle aches severe headaches and nausea are all possible symptoms of Colorado tick fever.

Mosquito and Tick Hot Spots on Your Property

You can take steps to help reduce mosquito and tick populations on your property by working with your pest management partner to minimize conducive conditions for each pest. By doing so, you can help reduce the habitats where they thrive. To make these changes, you must first identify mosquito and tick hot spots, which include:

• Building entrances – Ticks thrive in grasses and trees that make up your property’s landscaped areas. Landscaping close to your building entrance allows ticks to hitch a ride onto incoming customers and employees.

• Pools, ponds and water fixtures – Mosquitoes love moisture and can breed in as little as a bottlecap full of water, making these fixtures an enticing attractant.

• Outdoor eating areas and kitchens – These areas contain not only the landscaping and greenery ticks love, but also additional water and food, extending an even warmer invitation to mosquitoes.

• Playgrounds – Surrounded by greenery, playgrounds are also home to other pests, like rodents and rabbits, which can bring ticks with them. These areas are especially important to monitor to keep families safe.

Mosquito and Tick Prevention Tips

To help prevent mosquitoes and ticks from harming your customers, employees and business, consider taking proactive measures. Simple outdoor upkeep can help keep these pests at bay, such as maintaining landscaping; minimizing water build-up; and clearing away brush, fallen leaves, logs and other items they may use as shelter. Adding fans to outdoor areas with heavy foot traffic can help deter mosquitoes further, since they are weak flyers.

Further preventive measures include installing screens on windows and doors to keep pests from entering your building, installing traps in discrete areas and creating a 3-foot wide barrier between trees and grass using wood chips or gravel. Last, consider planting mosquito-repelling plants such as citronella, marigold, mint or lavender.

Hiring a professional to handle mosquitoes and ticks can take the pressure off of you and your employees. In fact, Orkin can help develop a customized plan including a comprehensive inspection, habitat modification, production application as needed and ongoing monitoring and maintenance for your property’s needs. With our assistance, you can do more than help protect your customers and employees – you can help protect your business.

Ready to help declare victory over vector pests this year? Learn more about our mosquito and tick services by scheduling a free audit at your property.