Pest Management Professional, September 2011
association update FLIES E xcuse me waiter Theres a fly in my soup These words might elicit a smile as we recall the punchline to an almost forgotten joke But the smile would quickly fade if we were to substitute almost any other pest While we often associate cockroaches and other urban pests with disease and filth one fly might seem simply like a nuisance and usually is dismissed by a casual wave of the hand The reality is filth flies including house flies face flies and blow flies can carry more than 100 pathogens that cause human disease according to the World Health Organization These flies develop in unsanitary locations such as animal manure garbage and a wide range of decaying organic matter Filth flies are capable of rapid dispersal from one location to another Its reasonable to believe pathogenic organisms can be transferred by them from contaminated areas to clean surfaces from the garbage can in the kitchen to the cheeseburger on your plate for example Theres considerable evidence filth flies play an important role as carriers of the disease organisms that cause cholera dysentery typhoid diarrhea and other human maladies In addition to their ability to rapidly move from one place to another the bodies of flies are well suited to transport pathogens Their sponging mouthparts numerous body hairs and tarsal pads can help transport disease causing organisms resulting in contaminated food water and preparation surfaces The National Pest Management Association NPMA works diligently to increase consumer awareness of the pest management professionals role as protectors of public health Through resources such as www PestWorld org and www PestWorldForKids org NPMAs consumer education arm the Professional Pest Management Alliance is working hard to communicate the fact that the house fly buzzing around your table over lunch is more than a mere nuisance Its a threat to your health pmp You can reach Fredericks technical director for the NPMA at jfredericks@ pestworld org Jim Fredericks Contributor 54 September 2011 Pest Management Professional mypmp net Flies are harmless Think again
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