Everyone who has suffered from bird or rodent mites knows the distress and agony that one goes through. These mites infest the person, clothes, bed, carpets, cars, work places, and homes entirely and are extremely difficult to eradicate. In addition to this, the scientific community often prefers not to research the matter further and because the issue is unfamiliar, they allow the people to suffer and cope on their own. The person feels isolation due to avoiding friends and family so as not to infest them and also from the fact that while this disease is common, it is still quite unknown and poorly understood by society at large.
This brings me to the tale of a young mother of two children and the wife of a minister. She lived happily in a Northern Virginia town, attending to her children's needs and assisting her husband in any matter that needed her attention.
Then, one day, she began receiving bites and a crawling sensation. No one else in the family felt these sensations, but her loving husband believed her. This crawling was intense and went all around her body, in her hair, back, legs, and arms. They researched the condition on the internet and did everything they could to stop it. They were convinced it was bird or rodent mites, although they were not entirely sure.
The young couple decided not to talk about what was going on with the children. They didn't want the children to be afraid or too worried. One day, as the mother was taking the curtains off the window as part of the cleaning protocols fighting the unknown and unseen mites, she had the children assist her take down the curtains. It was at that moment that she received confirmation that the mites were real as the children complained that it was as though something had pricked them with pin-like pricks. The curtains were infested with mites and as they took them down they bit the children.
When the woman went to a dermatologist, surprisingly the doctor believed her. He prescribed a lotion that begins with an "L," although the woman does not remember what it was. It was a lotion she could apply daily and it changed the Ph of her skin. She found some relief from this lotion, although now she does not remember the name (not Lindane as Lindane cannot be applied daily and does not change the Ph of skin).
This battle lasted from the beginning of October to the end of December, for three months, and one day the bites and crawling simply ceased.
Since this incident occurred, three other similar mite infestations have occurred in the same area--two are known to have involved rodents.
Considering the time of year, fall, and the fact that only one person in the household suffered from the mites, it was most likely rat mites as infestations by this species of mites are most common in the fall and winter and are known to affect only one or a couple people in a household--most likely through pheromone communications that allow large numbers of mites to communicate concerning a chosen host.
While this mite invasion was likely due to an animal abandoning its nest as it did stop on its own, many other people suffer from rodent and bird mites as the host animal is still present and many others have discovered that not only are the mites difficult to eradicate, they can use a human as a host for extended periods of time--perhaps even reproducing off of humans (while scientists deny this can happen a reasonable scientist should at the very least allow for such a possibility, there are many things that are not fully understood in biology and even rare or non-existent cases of disease can appear and become prevalent--simply denying that something can happen and refusing to research or study some phenomenon is not responsible science, it could be called laziness or arrogance).
Monday, March 17, 2008
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Gentrol and Suspend Worked for Someone.
Someone wrote the following:
"You are working very hard at this. For you home and car and work Use Suspend SC 4 oz per Gallon with 4 OZ Gentrol IGR. Mix in sprayer and cover about 1000 Square feet of building. Also spray car and work. Works like a charm. This has a residue effect of several months but respray in 3 weeks. Both Suspend and Gentrol are approved for indoors. Hospitals, homes, and schools. Just let it dry before you reenter the building. Several hours
Good luckStart living again. You can have people over to your home in a few weeks and you will be mite free. Take baths and Coat your bed blankets with the above Suspend Gentrol cocktail also. You will now sleep well also.GOD Bless you."
To buy Gentrol: http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/gentrolaerosol.htm
To buy Suspend: http://www.pestproducts.com/suspend_sc.htm
Keep in mind that you need to find a host or a source of the mites and if possible get the mites identified. If you do not remove a host or source, it is likely that the mites will continue to reproduce. Look into rodents or birds. Setting traps or poison for rodents is a good idea as they often go unnoticed if they are in the house. Check attics and crawlspaces. Nearby garages and sheds should also be inspected and tried with poison or traps. Same for birds, check attics and the eaves of roofs, balconies, chimneys, and trees or bushes near the house.
Bird mite infestations are most common in the Spring and Summer (due to bird nesting cycle), while rodent mites are most common in the Fall and Winter (due to rodents seeking shelter for the winter). These are not strict limits, the birds and rodents don't read science text books and both types of infestations can occur during any time of the year.
After finding the source, you should take mite control measures AND THEN take measures to destroy or remove the source of the mites, otherwise the mites will migrate from the animal or nest into the living quarters and things will get much worse. Don't expect to be free of the mites before you remove the source, just begin the process of destroying the mites first but don't wait for the mites to be gone before removing the source.
The mites may stay in the environment for a while after finding the source and taking mite control measures. You will have to fight them with patience and do all you can to destroy them. Also, if you trap one rat or find one bird's nest, don't assume there aren't others. Keep trapping, poisoning, and looking throughout your fight with the mites.
Another idea, some bird mites have been known to reproduce off of rodents. If you have removed a bird's nest and are trapped in a permanent state of infestation, it may still be worth your while to look into destroying all potential rodent hosts. To fight the mites, see links in right hand column.
"You are working very hard at this. For you home and car and work Use Suspend SC 4 oz per Gallon with 4 OZ Gentrol IGR. Mix in sprayer and cover about 1000 Square feet of building. Also spray car and work. Works like a charm. This has a residue effect of several months but respray in 3 weeks. Both Suspend and Gentrol are approved for indoors. Hospitals, homes, and schools. Just let it dry before you reenter the building. Several hours
Good luckStart living again. You can have people over to your home in a few weeks and you will be mite free. Take baths and Coat your bed blankets with the above Suspend Gentrol cocktail also. You will now sleep well also.GOD Bless you."
To buy Gentrol: http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/gentrolaerosol.htm
To buy Suspend: http://www.pestproducts.com/suspend_sc.htm
Keep in mind that you need to find a host or a source of the mites and if possible get the mites identified. If you do not remove a host or source, it is likely that the mites will continue to reproduce. Look into rodents or birds. Setting traps or poison for rodents is a good idea as they often go unnoticed if they are in the house. Check attics and crawlspaces. Nearby garages and sheds should also be inspected and tried with poison or traps. Same for birds, check attics and the eaves of roofs, balconies, chimneys, and trees or bushes near the house.
Bird mite infestations are most common in the Spring and Summer (due to bird nesting cycle), while rodent mites are most common in the Fall and Winter (due to rodents seeking shelter for the winter). These are not strict limits, the birds and rodents don't read science text books and both types of infestations can occur during any time of the year.
After finding the source, you should take mite control measures AND THEN take measures to destroy or remove the source of the mites, otherwise the mites will migrate from the animal or nest into the living quarters and things will get much worse. Don't expect to be free of the mites before you remove the source, just begin the process of destroying the mites first but don't wait for the mites to be gone before removing the source.
The mites may stay in the environment for a while after finding the source and taking mite control measures. You will have to fight them with patience and do all you can to destroy them. Also, if you trap one rat or find one bird's nest, don't assume there aren't others. Keep trapping, poisoning, and looking throughout your fight with the mites.
Another idea, some bird mites have been known to reproduce off of rodents. If you have removed a bird's nest and are trapped in a permanent state of infestation, it may still be worth your while to look into destroying all potential rodent hosts. To fight the mites, see links in right hand column.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Tips for Mite Control In Cars
I don't think I've thought of any of these ideas on my own, but I've read them in a number of places, including the yahoo group birdmitesorg where people discuss methods of controlling biting mite infestations. Since I've heard so many of them, I thought it would be good to put in one place. Many thanks to those who have tried these things!
1) Spread Borax/Diatomacious Earth on the carpet where you sit, lay it on thick. One person said she uses the whole box on the seat back, seat, and carpet in front of the seat. Leave the powder there while you drive. One person uses towls to protect her clothing from the powder, changing a clean towel every time. I use a bag (see 4).
2) If it's winter, don't turn the heat on, leave your coat on and keep it closed tightly. The mites are less likely to make it on you if it's subzero temperatures.
3) Put a 50 gallon black garbage bag over the seat, if you treated the seat with Borax, leave the Borax there, this will also protect your clothing from the white powder. When you enter the car, you can spray down the bag with alcohol and wipe it to make sure there are no mites on the bag when you sit. A similar idea I read is to put a shower cap on the head rest. A combination may be needed if the seat is too big.
4) If you're being infested from the steering wheel, use latex gloves.
5) Have your car detail cleaned/steam cleaned
6) Use free car-wash car vacuums to vacuum the inside of your car.
7) If you're tracking mites in your car on your shoes, wipe the bottoms with Windex, Ammonia, or Alcohol.
8) Spray your shoes, socks, feet, legs and pant legs with an insect repellant such as Lemon Eucalyptus or Picardin repellants (available from Repel, Cutter, and Off).
9) Spray your car with a mixture of epsom salt and water, the epsom salt should be quite concentrated, you can wipe plastic areas clean with a wet rag to avoid residue.
10) Make sure there are no rodents living in your car. In Texas, Michigan, and the East Coast, there have been numerous reports of mice, rats, and squirrels making nests or living in cars that are not used on a daily basis. These rodents will often seek shelter in the car during winter months and may be the source of a continued mite infestation.
While rodent mites generally infest rodents, even bird mites can maintain an infestation on a rodent. If the rodents are in your cabin, you can use snap traps (or if your desperate, poison--although it might rot in your car).
You can also take rodent control measures around your car, putting poison or traps in the garage etc. Some people have used Fox urine or ground Irish Spring soap in little cups to keep rodents at bay. Don't put anything flamable or meltable in the engine compartment. If you have a nest in your car, take the necessary protective measures to remove the nesting material (gloves, breathing protection etc.)
11) Treat the car with an ozone generator. More than an hour of running a generator should expose the mites thoroughly enough. Beware that high concentrations of ozone can be lethal to breath.
12) Fog the car with Cedarcide for some 10 to 15 minutes. Move "through the car" when you fog and make sure each crevice, nook, and cranny is fogged thoroughly. The trijet fogger sold by Cedarcide has the habbit of not reaching areas "in the shadows"--that is, not directly exposed to the stream coming from the fogger. The mist also moves from up to down, so you will need to make special attention to fog under seats and hard to get places.
1) Spread Borax/Diatomacious Earth on the carpet where you sit, lay it on thick. One person said she uses the whole box on the seat back, seat, and carpet in front of the seat. Leave the powder there while you drive. One person uses towls to protect her clothing from the powder, changing a clean towel every time. I use a bag (see 4).
2) If it's winter, don't turn the heat on, leave your coat on and keep it closed tightly. The mites are less likely to make it on you if it's subzero temperatures.
3) Put a 50 gallon black garbage bag over the seat, if you treated the seat with Borax, leave the Borax there, this will also protect your clothing from the white powder. When you enter the car, you can spray down the bag with alcohol and wipe it to make sure there are no mites on the bag when you sit. A similar idea I read is to put a shower cap on the head rest. A combination may be needed if the seat is too big.
4) If you're being infested from the steering wheel, use latex gloves.
5) Have your car detail cleaned/steam cleaned
6) Use free car-wash car vacuums to vacuum the inside of your car.
7) If you're tracking mites in your car on your shoes, wipe the bottoms with Windex, Ammonia, or Alcohol.
8) Spray your shoes, socks, feet, legs and pant legs with an insect repellant such as Lemon Eucalyptus or Picardin repellants (available from Repel, Cutter, and Off).
9) Spray your car with a mixture of epsom salt and water, the epsom salt should be quite concentrated, you can wipe plastic areas clean with a wet rag to avoid residue.
10) Make sure there are no rodents living in your car. In Texas, Michigan, and the East Coast, there have been numerous reports of mice, rats, and squirrels making nests or living in cars that are not used on a daily basis. These rodents will often seek shelter in the car during winter months and may be the source of a continued mite infestation.
While rodent mites generally infest rodents, even bird mites can maintain an infestation on a rodent. If the rodents are in your cabin, you can use snap traps (or if your desperate, poison--although it might rot in your car).
You can also take rodent control measures around your car, putting poison or traps in the garage etc. Some people have used Fox urine or ground Irish Spring soap in little cups to keep rodents at bay. Don't put anything flamable or meltable in the engine compartment. If you have a nest in your car, take the necessary protective measures to remove the nesting material (gloves, breathing protection etc.)
11) Treat the car with an ozone generator. More than an hour of running a generator should expose the mites thoroughly enough. Beware that high concentrations of ozone can be lethal to breath.
12) Fog the car with Cedarcide for some 10 to 15 minutes. Move "through the car" when you fog and make sure each crevice, nook, and cranny is fogged thoroughly. The trijet fogger sold by Cedarcide has the habbit of not reaching areas "in the shadows"--that is, not directly exposed to the stream coming from the fogger. The mist also moves from up to down, so you will need to make special attention to fog under seats and hard to get places.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Cucumber Cream.
Someone wrote this:
"Put cucumber peels in food procssor. Mix cucumber past with a nice body balm, or use straight from the blender after moisturizing skin. Spread all over your body, especially feet and legs where the buggers congregate. Don't miss a spot -- they will find it! Works immediately to stop crawling sensation, bites. Lasts for hours. Ahhhh... Sleep.... Finally... My accidental discovery, kudos to my pal Syndey for suggesting pest control aspect of cucumbers."
"Put cucumber peels in food procssor. Mix cucumber past with a nice body balm, or use straight from the blender after moisturizing skin. Spread all over your body, especially feet and legs where the buggers congregate. Don't miss a spot -- they will find it! Works immediately to stop crawling sensation, bites. Lasts for hours. Ahhhh... Sleep.... Finally... My accidental discovery, kudos to my pal Syndey for suggesting pest control aspect of cucumbers."
New Map
I created a new map for case reports of biting mites that I know of (Link here). Since I've been collecting the links to bird and rodent mite infestations around the world and also reviewing scientific literature about the mite species, I thought it would be instructive to place all of these infestations on a map to see what pattern would emerge. Some trends that have been recognized are that tropical rat mites are moving north along the West Coast of North America to Washington, Oregon, and British Colombia. Tropical rat mites have generally been quite abundant in California and Texas. Alameda County, California, has had a large number of incident reports as has the area around Seattle, Washington.
I know of four incidents that appear to be rodent mites (possibly tropical rat mites) in the Washington, DC area. For some reason there have been a number of infestations in Illinois by either bird or rodent mites. It is possible that mice are abundant in an area known for growing corn. Bird mites from Pigeons appear to be common in urban settings with a number of reports from New York City.
From the small sampling of Internet reports of these infestations, the largest concentration appears to be in the Eastern half of the United States and along the West Coast, while the prairies and Southwest have few cases, although there are cases nonetheless.
Chicken mites appear to be abundant in the Middle East and likely peak in the winter months as they do in Florida, the mites are able to reproduce more rapidly in cooler temperatures while the summer heat in these areas limits their numbers. A number of Tropical Rat Mite reports emanate from Germany, while bird mites are also found in Southern European cities and countryside.
In any case, bird and rodent mites are found throughout the temperate regions of the Americas and Europe, with rodent mite infestation reports coming from as far north as Scandinavia.
I know of four incidents that appear to be rodent mites (possibly tropical rat mites) in the Washington, DC area. For some reason there have been a number of infestations in Illinois by either bird or rodent mites. It is possible that mice are abundant in an area known for growing corn. Bird mites from Pigeons appear to be common in urban settings with a number of reports from New York City.
From the small sampling of Internet reports of these infestations, the largest concentration appears to be in the Eastern half of the United States and along the West Coast, while the prairies and Southwest have few cases, although there are cases nonetheless.
Chicken mites appear to be abundant in the Middle East and likely peak in the winter months as they do in Florida, the mites are able to reproduce more rapidly in cooler temperatures while the summer heat in these areas limits their numbers. A number of Tropical Rat Mite reports emanate from Germany, while bird mites are also found in Southern European cities and countryside.
In any case, bird and rodent mites are found throughout the temperate regions of the Americas and Europe, with rodent mite infestation reports coming from as far north as Scandinavia.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Mites an Emerging Zoonosis?
A new study published in the magazine/journal, Nature, indicates that 71% of all emerging diseases are zoonic in source. This means that humans contract the previously less common or even entirely non-human disease from animals. Also, Dr. Lonnie King said in a 2004 JAVMA article that "80% of bioterrorist agents are zoonic" in origin, adding that "We are just as likely to find these new diseases in our clinics or veterinary diagnostic laboratories, as we are to find them in a human hospital" (JAVMA). The disturbing increase in Bird and Rodent Mite infestations appears to fit perfectly into the definition of an emerging zoonosis.
What puzzles me is that doctors and entomologysts are often incredulous when faced with an emergent ectoparasistosis. Their days are often full of the routine of common diseases and common bugs. The only place where the two, diseases and bugs, are believed to meet is in scabies or perhaps a disease passed on to humans by bugs, such as fleas and the plague. Unfortunately the world we live in is far more complex than this.
The mathematical realities of medical and entomological textbooks are bent in the real world. To quote Hammond from Michael Crichton's Jurrassic Park, "Life will find a way." When mites, collembola, and other such pathogenic creatures are faced with either death or a new host, they will most certainly choose the new host and in some cases they will find a way to infest that new host for long periods of time.
The rat mites contracted in a house where the rat has died will not feel obligated to stay in that house or stay in that city or state--as though they could read textbooks or the laws of nature concerning climate or range imposed on them by an academic sitting in his office. These mites will feed on the humans and if possible hitch a ride to a new rodentine host, perhaps many state lines away in a different city only to wait until their new productive rat has been expired and then on to find new hosts.
What is causing this? One factor might be climate change. Another might be farming practices. In the case of bird mites, poultry farms are often infested with bird mites and attempts to erradicate the mites with pesticides not only fail, but create super-resistent mites that can then be swapped with wild birds and then passed on to human living environments. Transportation in an increasingly interconnected world (globalization) also playes a part.
Whatever the reason, one could create a graph of all the mite infestation data available--perhaps one indicator might be the reports found on the net--and then see in what form these infestations appear on the graph. It would appear that we are on a severe upward spike.
After contracting my mite infestation, I have found out that a good friend of mine struggled with a long term infestation of the same kind just a year ago. About a month into my struggle, another friend had his apartment invaded by mites from a pigeon. What is strange about this is that growing up I never hear of mites from animals attacking humans. Now, not only is the web riddled with mite suffering people, people in my close social group are being attacked by mites unrelated to those plaguing the others.
In addition, another friend informed me that there are two family's in my county whose property has been infested by mites and are struggling with them as I write. How many people and families need to suffer for scientists to finally take note and for doctors and entomologists to find lasting solutions?
The WHO's definition for Emerging Zoonosis, a perfect fit for bird and rodent mite infestations.
"Contrary to 'lingering' zoonoses, public awareness of 'emerging' zoonoses is very high. The WHO/FAO/OIE joint consultation on emerging zoonotic diseases held in Geneva, 3-5 May 2004, defined an emerging zoonosis as 'a zoonosis that is newly recognized or newly evolved, or that has occurred previously but shows an increase in incidence or expansion in geographical, host or vector range'. Emerging zoonotic diseases have potentially serious human health and economic impacts and their current upwards trends are likely to continue.
"Many factors lead to the emergence of zoonotic diseases. Environmental changes, human and animal demography, pathogen changes and changes in farming practice are a few of them. Social and cultural factors such as food habits and religious beliefs play a role too" (WHO: Emerging Zoonosis)
February 2008: BBC on the Map of Emerging Diseases
What puzzles me is that doctors and entomologysts are often incredulous when faced with an emergent ectoparasistosis. Their days are often full of the routine of common diseases and common bugs. The only place where the two, diseases and bugs, are believed to meet is in scabies or perhaps a disease passed on to humans by bugs, such as fleas and the plague. Unfortunately the world we live in is far more complex than this.
The mathematical realities of medical and entomological textbooks are bent in the real world. To quote Hammond from Michael Crichton's Jurrassic Park, "Life will find a way." When mites, collembola, and other such pathogenic creatures are faced with either death or a new host, they will most certainly choose the new host and in some cases they will find a way to infest that new host for long periods of time.
The rat mites contracted in a house where the rat has died will not feel obligated to stay in that house or stay in that city or state--as though they could read textbooks or the laws of nature concerning climate or range imposed on them by an academic sitting in his office. These mites will feed on the humans and if possible hitch a ride to a new rodentine host, perhaps many state lines away in a different city only to wait until their new productive rat has been expired and then on to find new hosts.
What is causing this? One factor might be climate change. Another might be farming practices. In the case of bird mites, poultry farms are often infested with bird mites and attempts to erradicate the mites with pesticides not only fail, but create super-resistent mites that can then be swapped with wild birds and then passed on to human living environments. Transportation in an increasingly interconnected world (globalization) also playes a part.
Whatever the reason, one could create a graph of all the mite infestation data available--perhaps one indicator might be the reports found on the net--and then see in what form these infestations appear on the graph. It would appear that we are on a severe upward spike.
After contracting my mite infestation, I have found out that a good friend of mine struggled with a long term infestation of the same kind just a year ago. About a month into my struggle, another friend had his apartment invaded by mites from a pigeon. What is strange about this is that growing up I never hear of mites from animals attacking humans. Now, not only is the web riddled with mite suffering people, people in my close social group are being attacked by mites unrelated to those plaguing the others.
In addition, another friend informed me that there are two family's in my county whose property has been infested by mites and are struggling with them as I write. How many people and families need to suffer for scientists to finally take note and for doctors and entomologists to find lasting solutions?
The WHO's definition for Emerging Zoonosis, a perfect fit for bird and rodent mite infestations.
"Contrary to 'lingering' zoonoses, public awareness of 'emerging' zoonoses is very high. The WHO/FAO/OIE joint consultation on emerging zoonotic diseases held in Geneva, 3-5 May 2004, defined an emerging zoonosis as 'a zoonosis that is newly recognized or newly evolved, or that has occurred previously but shows an increase in incidence or expansion in geographical, host or vector range'. Emerging zoonotic diseases have potentially serious human health and economic impacts and their current upwards trends are likely to continue.
"Many factors lead to the emergence of zoonotic diseases. Environmental changes, human and animal demography, pathogen changes and changes in farming practice are a few of them. Social and cultural factors such as food habits and religious beliefs play a role too" (WHO: Emerging Zoonosis)
February 2008: BBC on the Map of Emerging Diseases
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Bring Back DDT!
The article on Tropical Rat Mites by Theodore Olsen in the list of Tropical Rat Mite sources showed that their experiments with various pesticides proved that DDT was extremely toxic to the mites (unlike any pesticide that is available today). Most likely this is the case for both Rodent and Bird Mites. These months, even years of agony and suffering could be over within hours if DDT could be used. We all acknowledge that temperatures are rising globally and this may well be the reason for the spread and rise of these blood feeding mites. Perhaps our climate was keeping them in check, but now the warmth does not allow such a control.
Recent reports have shown that rat populations are exploding in Washington, DC and Detroit (Rodent Reports Increase In DC and Vermin Complaints Soar In Metro Detroit) due to the mild winter. In Detroit, the mild weather combines with the halting of a highway-side rat baiting program that had held the problem in check for years, it was halted due to legal liability concerns--yet another instance of the weakening of our defences against pests and parasites. Some in DC are banding together to make war on rats and try to get something done about it (Washingtonians Against Rats). New York is also fighting its rats out of control (Rats Rampage At KFC and New York Tackles Its Gnawing Rat Problem) as is Seattle (Chilly Rats Want a Cozy Home).
The increase in rats can be expected everywhere, and with them will come the Rat Mites. In the 1950s, these mites were known to mainly infest rats and people in the Southern States (see Pratt in my post "Academic Research on Tropical Rat Mites"), but now they are making their way up to Oregon, Washington State, and British Colombia (Reports of Rat Mites on the Rise, Seatle)--and most likely in many other places that have not yet realized what hit them.
(I actually wonder if many of the cases of mite infestation in the last two years might not be this increase of rats and spread of rat mites due to mild weather or perhaps the weather has a similar effect on pigeons and bird mites.)
Also, Bed Bug infestations have risen exponentially in all 50 states and they are more resistant than ever. Just between 2000 and 2005 pest control companies saw a 71% increase in bed bug complaints (Bed Bugs Bounce Back: Outbreaks in All 50 States). Some scientists are not only pointing out that people in Third World countries die from Malaria because DDT is not used, but that Malaria and the mosquitos that spread them will spread into Europe and the United States, killing thousands (Bring Back DDT: Overspraying Made DDT Look Worse Than It Deserved).
If I may say so, it is time that a movement starts to build up to stop this insanity. DDT wiped out bed bugs once, it can do it again. It wiped out malaria once, it can do it again. And it can help all those who struggle day after day with the loneliness and distress of mite infestations that destroy lives and waste fortunes.
While our safety procedures and technology have improved, our pesticides have weakened (see Bed Bug article above). It is time to combine modern safety with the strongest pesticide known to humankind, DDT. This could be extended to other pesticides as well. Why create regulations for Malathion and other pesticides that have recently been targeted for either bans or too tight restrictions?
Inform the users/clients of the risks, take the necessary precautions and allow them to take responsibility for themselves. The stress and loss from these long term and traumatic pest infestations (Acariasis is a disease) may already be shortening our lives--it has definately affected our quality and dignity of life--shouldn't we weigh this in the risk consideration?
FrontPageMag 2005: Bring Back DDT-Congressional Hearing
EcoWorld 2004: Bring Back DDT: Overspraying Made DDT Look Worse Than It Deserved
21st Century Science and Technology 2002: Bring Back DDT and Science With It
Spiked Science 2001: Without DDT, Malaria Bites Back
Fox News 2002: DDT Could Thwart West Nile Virus
The Hindu 2006: Banned DDT Back to Fight Dengue (An Indian state lifts ban to save lives.)
Gus van Horn 2007: So Bring Back DDT Already!
Recent reports have shown that rat populations are exploding in Washington, DC and Detroit (Rodent Reports Increase In DC and Vermin Complaints Soar In Metro Detroit) due to the mild winter. In Detroit, the mild weather combines with the halting of a highway-side rat baiting program that had held the problem in check for years, it was halted due to legal liability concerns--yet another instance of the weakening of our defences against pests and parasites. Some in DC are banding together to make war on rats and try to get something done about it (Washingtonians Against Rats). New York is also fighting its rats out of control (Rats Rampage At KFC and New York Tackles Its Gnawing Rat Problem) as is Seattle (Chilly Rats Want a Cozy Home).
The increase in rats can be expected everywhere, and with them will come the Rat Mites. In the 1950s, these mites were known to mainly infest rats and people in the Southern States (see Pratt in my post "Academic Research on Tropical Rat Mites"), but now they are making their way up to Oregon, Washington State, and British Colombia (Reports of Rat Mites on the Rise, Seatle)--and most likely in many other places that have not yet realized what hit them.
(I actually wonder if many of the cases of mite infestation in the last two years might not be this increase of rats and spread of rat mites due to mild weather or perhaps the weather has a similar effect on pigeons and bird mites.)
Also, Bed Bug infestations have risen exponentially in all 50 states and they are more resistant than ever. Just between 2000 and 2005 pest control companies saw a 71% increase in bed bug complaints (Bed Bugs Bounce Back: Outbreaks in All 50 States). Some scientists are not only pointing out that people in Third World countries die from Malaria because DDT is not used, but that Malaria and the mosquitos that spread them will spread into Europe and the United States, killing thousands (Bring Back DDT: Overspraying Made DDT Look Worse Than It Deserved).
If I may say so, it is time that a movement starts to build up to stop this insanity. DDT wiped out bed bugs once, it can do it again. It wiped out malaria once, it can do it again. And it can help all those who struggle day after day with the loneliness and distress of mite infestations that destroy lives and waste fortunes.
While our safety procedures and technology have improved, our pesticides have weakened (see Bed Bug article above). It is time to combine modern safety with the strongest pesticide known to humankind, DDT. This could be extended to other pesticides as well. Why create regulations for Malathion and other pesticides that have recently been targeted for either bans or too tight restrictions?
Inform the users/clients of the risks, take the necessary precautions and allow them to take responsibility for themselves. The stress and loss from these long term and traumatic pest infestations (Acariasis is a disease) may already be shortening our lives--it has definately affected our quality and dignity of life--shouldn't we weigh this in the risk consideration?
Further Reading
FrontPageMag 2005: Bring Back DDT-Congressional Hearing
EcoWorld 2004: Bring Back DDT: Overspraying Made DDT Look Worse Than It Deserved
21st Century Science and Technology 2002: Bring Back DDT and Science With It
Spiked Science 2001: Without DDT, Malaria Bites Back
Fox News 2002: DDT Could Thwart West Nile Virus
The Hindu 2006: Banned DDT Back to Fight Dengue (An Indian state lifts ban to save lives.)
Gus van Horn 2007: So Bring Back DDT Already!
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