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Cockroaches: a danger to you and your food

If you are like most people the mere sight of a cockroach will make you shudder. You have a good reason! Cockroaches don’t just look a little odd, they can also be surprisingly dangerous.

You may not realize it but cockroaches carry many different diseases. Of course, it should be noted that these diseases are generally carried on the body of the cockroach, they are not infected with them.

Unfortunately, this means that germs and bacteria can easily be spread by a cockroach, just by walking over a surface. 

If you think you have a cockroach problem you need to contact your local pest control firm and get the problem solved as quickly as possible. 

The Danger of Cockroaches

Cockroaches in your home are more than just an embarrassment, they can actually attack humans! This usually happens when they are already in your home and food has become scarce. They can bite your toenails, fingernails, and any exposed soft skin. 

Unless you’re allergic these bites will simply be irritating. But, it is possible for a cockroach to crawl into your body through an ear or your nose while you’re sleeping!

It should be noted that if you are allergic then you’ll start to get rashes, watery eyes, and plenty of sneezing. You’re more likely to get this if you already suffer from asthma.

Food Dangers

While the danger to you is minimal, the danger to food, and then you is much greater. 

Cockroaches will eat almost anything, they have even been known to eat paper, leather, and dead plants. The problem is that they will crawl all over the food, in the process the bacteria stuck to their feet will transfer to your food. You can then eat it and find yourself at risk of food poisoning or exposure to a range of diseases, such as salmonella or streptococcus.

Prevention

You need to deal with any existing infestation quickly and effectively. You can find out more here about your local pest control expert.

It’s also a good idea to keep all surfaces, especially those where you prepare food, as clean as possible. Whenever you’ve finished making a dish, put the waste in a sealed bin, leftovers in a sealed container, and clean the side down. Using a bacterial spray is also a good idea.

You should also consider checking for any moisture, or leaks within your home. This will create water which a cockroach needs to flourish. It can last an extended period of time without water. But, eventually, it will need to drink and depriving them of water is going to make your home less appealing.

It is also possible to seal up your home to prevent the cockroaches from finding their way in. You’ll need to visually inspect your home from the outside and locate the weak spots where a cockroach could slip inside. 

You may find it helpful to watch the cockroaches as they will show you where they are coming and going from.

Then, simply block all the gaps you can see and deal with the cockroaches already in your home. 

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