If you study man’s history with pandemics, you would find out that the past few centuries have had its own disease so deadly and widespread that it altered the way mankind lived. In the Middle Ages, there was the Great Plague, one that wiped out almost half of the entire European population. Other diseases that made their presence felt were cholera, flu, malaria, dengue fever, and AIDS.
Now, we have another form of the disease that is spreading fear in the hearts of everyone. It is formerly known as NCOVID. Now it is officially known as COVID-19. Some people call it the Coronavirus. Whatever you want to call it, a virus by any other name sounds as deadly.
Diseases like COVID-19, though deadly in itself, have become even more dangerous due to its easy transmission. That—coupled with the ease of travel never before seen in history—has seen unprecedented fear regardless of race, sex, and religion. It does not matter if you are rich or poor, celebrity or non-entity, a person in power or a normal citizen, COVID-19 can go after you. Canadian President Justin Trudeau and his wife, Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, NBA player Rudy Gobert, Senator Susan Mcdonald, and Arsenal’s Spanish head coach Mikel Arteta are just some of the celebrities who are infected. The world is in a crisis.
One of the main concerns among citizens of the United States is how we can avoid this? What is the mode of transmission? Go-Forth Home Services, the leading pest control company in North and South Carolina, is inundated with calls from its valuable clients asking if insects can worsen the situation. Go-Forth Home Services weighs in on this subject. Read on.
History Of COVID-19
Much of the early part of the year 2019 was generally peaceful and, shall we say, uneventful. The United States economy was riding high and unemployment was at an all-time low. And then December 2019 happened; not here, but at the other end of the world: Wuhan, China.
In December 2019, a strange new illness was being seen in patients who are living in the city of Wuhan. High fever, dry cough, bluish lips or face, and shortness of breath are the symptoms. Close contact with an infected person is the normal way a person gets infected. A person exhibiting these signs has to be taken to a hospital for further checking. That person would be tested for the COVID-19 infection.
After this disease was discovered, Chinese officials quickly pointed to eating infected bats as the origin of COVID-19. The city of Wuhan hosts an exotic meats market that sells, among other exotic things, bat meat. Initially, the disease was spread from animals to humans. Eventually, transmission happens from human to another human. However, Chinese officials are now singing a different tune, pointing to the United States as the origin of the virus. Whatever the origins of the virus are, it was then clear that tens of thousands of Chinese—majority of them in Wuhan—got infected. About 3 percent of those infected died. Wuhan was then placed on total lockdown by February, but by that time it was all too late. The virus has reached several other countries as several of its residents were able to leave China, unaware that they were already carriers of the virus.
As of this writing, more than 100,000 had been infected, with around 5,000 deaths all over the world. The World Health Organization now calls it a “pandemic." The number of new cases in China is dropping, while Europe’s continue to rise. Europe is now the epicenter of this disease.
What Do We Know About COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a new disease, so much so that no one is an expert in this. All early information comes from China. It has been observed that the people who are at higher risk of being infected are the elderly and those who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease. Health care workers also are at high risk. However, it should be noted that there are quite a number of professional athletes who are now infected. These athletes are supposed to be at the peak of health. It has been observed that children are less prone to infection, though the reasons are not yet known.
The progression of the disease varies widely. Some are asymptomatic. Some have mild symptoms, others need intensive care in the hospital.
Is It Treatable?
COVID-19 is still at its infancy stage; there is no cure nor vaccine yet. However, many of those who were infected recovered. Treating is limited to easing the symptoms while being isolated to protect other people. In some cases, patients have to be in intensive care involving artificial ventilation.
How Can It Be Transmitted?
It is important for us to know how COVID-19 is transmitted so that we would know how to protect ourselves:
- Transmission through hands - When someone sneezes or coughs, tiny infectious droplets may reach your hands. Once you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, the transmission could happen.
- Transmission through close and prolonged contact - Being closer than 3 feet for more than 15 minutes to a person who is infected puts you at high risk. Keep your distance.
- Transmission through droplets - If a person next to you sneezes or coughs, the tiny droplets might land on your eyes, nose, or mouth.
It is known that the virus can survive on surfaces for hours. What has yet to be known is if it can be transmitted to a person by touching these surfaces, and then touching his or her face.
Are Insects Carriers Of The Coronavirus Too?
COVID-19 is such a new disease that we get to read so many articles with conflicting statements about it. There are also several articles that tell us what to do to get protected from it, or about how it gets transmitted. Some are helpful, but some cause unnecessary worries or even panic.
One cause for worry among many Americans is that the virus might be transmitted by insects. COVID-19 is classified as a zoonotic disease, which means that this disease was able to jump from animals to human hosts. Fortunately, this does not mean that insects can transmit the virus.
Insects are widely known to transfer several kinds of deadly diseases. Mosquitoes, for one, transmit dengue fever, malaria, West Nile virus, and encephalitis, earning them the notoriety of being the world's deadliest creatures. Fleas are known to transmit the plague. Cockroaches give us salmonella, cholera, diarrhea, and food poisoning. Ticks transmit Lyme disease. For now, at least, there is no evidence that any of these pests are capable of transmitting coronavirus.
Even so, we should take extra precautions so that our homes would be pest-free.
How To Keep The Coronavirus Away
Experts agree that proper handwashing fights coronavirus. Wash your hands with soap and water. While doing so, sing the song “Happy Birthday To You” twice.
Distance yourself from other people by at least 3 feet. 3 feet is considered a safe distance already.
Boost your immune system as much as possible. Eat healthy foods and take plenty of vitamins. Exercise regularly.
Stay at home as much as possible. This is especially true if you have a high fever, cough, and colds. Contact your health care provider or doctor immediately.
If you have to go outside, avoid public transportation. Use a bike or take a walk, you can at least exercise at the same time.
How To Get Rid Of Pests
Get rid of insects and other pests is the most important thing, that is. While COVID-19 is a big problem right now, let us all make sure that pests would not endanger us all either.
When it comes to having a pest-free home, the key will always be to practice good housekeeping. Most pests are attracted to dirty surroundings because that is how they get their food. Sweep and mop the floors, and vacuum carpets and all furniture. Throw away garbage regularly. Always cover your trash can. Remove clutter to reduce their hiding places.
For mosquitoes, remove old items that can hold water for a long time, like old cans, old tires, old gutters, and abandoned birdbaths. Protect yourself by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants. Wear mosquito repellent with the active protection DEET.
For pest problems, you may need a professional to help you out. For the best pest control professionals in North Carolina, call Go-Forth Home Services.
Go-Forth Home Services Protects You
No home or pest is the same, so there is no cookie-cutter solution. At Go-Forth Home Services, we have professional technicians who will examine your home and your lawn to evaluate your individual necessity. We will identify points of entry and make treatments as necessary. We only use state of the art equipment to keep up with these ever-evolving pests. And what’s more, we only use family-friendly and pet-friendly methods, so that you can be sure that you and your family are safe.
For more information, or to set an appointment, just dial (877) 274-1475. Our friendly operators are standing by.