Badminton is affected by the recent outbreak of bird flu in China. High-quality, professional badminton shuttlecocks (birdies) are made from cork, leather and 16 white goose feathers. Badminton aficionados in China are experiencing a 10-percent increase of shuttlecock prices because of a shortage of duck and goose feathers resulting from extensive culling of infected poultry.

In Indonesia, a country that relies on China for as much as 40 percent of its shuttlecocks, the ban on Chinese poultry products, including feathers, is causing players to consider nylon or plastic birdies instead.

More concerning than avian flu’s impact on badminton, however, is the possibility that gene mutations could cause the virus to make the jump to humans. In China, more than 130 people have been infected and more than 30 have died from the H7N9 virus. Although avian influenza typically is associated with domesticated birds on large farms, pest management professionals (PMPs) must be aware of the threat posed by pathogens when working with nuisance birds.

For example, Salmonella has been isolated from pigeon, starling and sparrow droppings. Bird droppings also can harbor histoplasmosis or cryptococcosis spores. Because many companies offer dropping removal services as part of their bird management programs, health and safety precautions should be considered for any technicians performing cleanup work. Such precautions include:

• Only healthy (not immune-compromised) individuals should perform cleanup work.
• Care should be taken to avoid inhaling dust during the process.
• Workers should wet the droppings before and during cleanup to prevent the formation of airborne dust.
• There should be no eating, drinking or smoking during the process.
• Droppings should be placed in a sealable plastic bag and disposed of in outdoor trash.
• Tools, rubber boots and gloves, and any other contaminated items that will be reused should be cleaned with a 10-percent bleach solution.

Just like a player preparing to serve a shuttlecock in a high-stakes game of international badminton, technicians who know the rules, have completed their training and have the right equipment to do the job can stay healthy and be successful as they battle the birdie. pmp

You can reach Dr. Fredericks, technical director for the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), at jfredericks@pestworld.org.

James Rodriguez

The threat of infectious disease was all over the media this past fall with the Ebola virus, but don’t forget the diseases carried, transmitted and spread by rodents. Salmonella, leptospirosis, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome and plague are still common rodent-transmitted diseases. Protecting your customers, pest technicians, the public and yourself begins with knowledge.

⦁ Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website to find the rodent diseases in your area.

⦁ Implement a program to identify areas where rodent droppings accumulate.

⦁ Note that entering confined spaces with rodent evidence requires proper use of respirators and decontamination procedures.

⦁ Note that removing rodent droppings requires an understanding of decontamination procedures.

⦁ Realize rodent droppings pose some hazard, big or small.

James Rodriguez, ACE, is National Marketing Manager for J.T. Eaton & Co.

Rats invade millions of homes — and are capable of transmitting deadly disease. During a suspected rat infestation inspection, pest management professionals (PMPs) will find them living in attics, basements and warehouses. Rats often raid kitchens, crawl around electrical wires and scratch their way into walls.

• Rat scratches and bites can trigger the wave of rat-bite fever. Symptoms include fever, skin rashes, vomiting, pain in your muscles and headaches.
• Rat urine can be held responsible for the spread of leptospirosis, which can cause kidney damage.
• Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) is a viral infection, transmitted through the saliva and urine of rats. This lethal disease has two stages: The first stage presents flu-like symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, headache and body pain. The second stage includes meningitis and encephalitis.
• Black Plague was an epidemic form of bubonic plague in the Middle Ages, killing half of the population of Western Europe. A mild form of plague still exists today.
• Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is another viral disease hosted by rodents, often caused by inhaling dust that is fouled with rat urine or dropping, and in some cases even direct contact with rats.
• Salmonella bacteria are carried by rats in their digestive tract. Upon contamination of food or water, salmonellosis can spread among humans.

Badminton is affected by the recent outbreak of bird flu in China. High-quality, professional badminton shuttlecocks (birdies) are made from cork, leather and 16 white goose feathers. Badminton aficionados in China are experiencing a 10-percent increase of shuttlecock prices because of a shortage of duck and goose feathers resulting from extensive culling of infected poultry.

In Indonesia, a country that relies on China for as much as 40 percent of its shuttlecocks, the ban on Chinese poultry products, including feathers, is causing players to consider nylon or plastic birdies instead.

More concerning than avian flu’s impact on badminton, however, is the possibility that gene mutations could cause the virus to make the jump to humans. In China, more than 130 people have been infected and more than 30 have died from the H7N9 virus. Although avian influenza typically is associated with domesticated birds on large farms, pest management professionals (PMPs) must be aware of the threat posed by pathogens when working with nuisance birds.

For example, Salmonella has been isolated from pigeon, starling and sparrow droppings. Bird droppings also can harbor histoplasmosis or cryptococcosis spores. Because many companies offer dropping removal services as part of their bird management programs, health and safety precautions should be considered for any technicians performing cleanup work. Such precautions include:

• Only healthy (not immune-compromised) individuals should perform cleanup work.
• Care should be taken to avoid inhaling dust during the process.
• Workers should wet the droppings before and during cleanup to prevent the formation of airborne dust.
• There should be no eating, drinking or smoking during the process.
• Droppings should be placed in a sealable plastic bag and disposed of in outdoor trash.
• Tools, rubber boots and gloves, and any other contaminated items that will be reused should be cleaned with a 10-percent bleach solution.

Just like a player preparing to serve a shuttlecock in a high-stakes game of international badminton, technicians who know the rules, have completed their training and have the right equipment to do the job can stay healthy and be successful as they battle the birdie. pmp

You can reach Dr. Fredericks, technical director for the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), at jfredericks@pestworld.org.

The post Bird-dropping cleanup is no game appeared first on Pest Management Professional.

James Rodriguez

The threat of infectious disease was all over the media this past fall with the Ebola virus, but don’t forget the diseases carried, transmitted and spread by rodents. Salmonella, leptospirosis, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome and plague are still common rodent-transmitted diseases. Protecting your customers, pest technicians, the public and yourself begins with knowledge.

⦁ Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website to find the rodent diseases in your area.

⦁ Implement a program to identify areas where rodent droppings accumulate.

⦁ Note that entering confined spaces with rodent evidence requires proper use of respirators and decontamination procedures.

⦁ Note that removing rodent droppings requires an understanding of decontamination procedures.

⦁ Realize rodent droppings pose some hazard, big or small.

James Rodriguez, ACE, is National Marketing Manager for J.T. Eaton & Co.

The post Tips & Tricks: How to Protect Against Rodent-Transmitted Diseases appeared first on Pest Management Professional.

Rats invade millions of homes — and are capable of transmitting deadly disease. During a suspected rat infestation inspection, pest management professionals (PMPs) will find them living in attics, basements and warehouses. Rats often raid kitchens, crawl around electrical wires and scratch their way into walls.

• Rat scratches and bites can trigger the wave of rat-bite fever. Symptoms include fever, skin rashes, vomiting, pain in your muscles and headaches.
• Rat urine can be held responsible for the spread of leptospirosis, which can cause kidney damage.
• Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) is a viral infection, transmitted through the saliva and urine of rats. This lethal disease has two stages: The first stage presents flu-like symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, headache and body pain. The second stage includes meningitis and encephalitis.
• Black Plague was an epidemic form of bubonic plague in the Middle Ages, killing half of the population of Western Europe. A mild form of plague still exists today.
• Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is another viral disease hosted by rodents, often caused by inhaling dust that is fouled with rat urine or dropping, and in some cases even direct contact with rats.
• Salmonella bacteria are carried by rats in their digestive tract. Upon contamination of food or water, salmonellosis can spread among humans.

The post Rats and disease appeared first on Pest Management Professional.