How Do Pests Make Us Sick?

How Do Pests Make Us Sick?

Summary: Pest-related illnesses are referenced all the time, but how do they actually make us sick? This blog answers that question by exploring the three main ways that pests make people sick: food contamination, bloodsucking, and allergies/asthma. Pointe Pest Control protects local homes from these hazardous pests.

Pests do a lot more than bug us (literally). They damage our homes, ruin our yards, and — most importantly — affect our health. Yesterday was World Health Day, so our focus is on the pests that have an infamous impact on human and pet health.

Vulnerable populations (elderly, kids, etc.) are more at risk of having lasting health effects from certain pests, but anyone can be impacted. We often talk about different bacteria-ridden pests, but how do these pests make us sick? Let’s find out by discussing the three main pest-related areas of concern and the critters responsible for these health risks.

Food Contamination

When pest health concerns are brought up, it’s usually in context of food contamination. This is because pests impact the quality of our food in a big way. Food-borne illnesses are major health concerns, and some of them stem from pests getting into places they shouldn’t be. Food that’s contaminated by pests could cause lasting health effects in people that consume said food.

One reason why pests are linked to food contamination is that they carry bacteria from the gross places they’ve previously visited. Ants and flies walk through trash and waste in search of food. If they walk on fresh food after that, bacteria from the previous places is then transferred onto the food and can make the consumer sick.

Another reason why food contamination is constantly linked to pests is because warehouses and food/beverage processing facilities have the ideal conditions for many pests. The safe shelter and temperature control are optimal for these critters. They’ll want to stay and reproduce, which is terrible news for any food-related facility.

Food Pests

Everyone needs proper pest management, including food and beverage facilities. Since pests contaminate surfaces in a number of ways (legs, bodies, droppings, urine, etc.), it’s essential to protect our food and drinks from these harmful critters.

The most infamous food contamination pests and their resulting diseases are:

• Ants — Bacteria spreads through their colony faster than you can say “Ew!” Diseases often linked to ants include E. coli, salmonella, staph, and strep.

• Roaches — These are some of the filthiest pests around, and their bacteria is transferred everywhere they walk. Roach-centric diseases include salmonella, dysentery, gastroenteritis, and E. coli.

• Flies — These bugs don’t look threatening, but flies can infest humans with over 60 types of diseases. The most common include E. coli, salmonella, listeria, cholera, and Typhoid fever.

• Rodents — Rodents are the most popular (or unpopular) pest linked to food contamination. Their common diseases include hantavirus, salmonella, meningitis, and Weil’s disease.

Consuming Our Blood

Most pests aren’t born with dangerous pathogens — they encounter them. Such is the case with bloodsucking pests. Mosquitoes are often vectors for diseases by feeding on an infected mammal. When they get blood from an infected host and then feed on a different mammal, the mosquito transmits those pathogens through its saliva.

Ticks are similar in that many of them have harmful pathogens in their saliva. Different tick species have different diseases. For example, black-legged ticks can transmit Lyme disease. Fleas are also linked to numerous diseases through their bites, but they’re not as worrisome as these other pests nowadays.

Bed bugs are on the opposite end of the spectrum. Their bites are itchy and irritating — especially for people who are allergic to bed bugs — but they do not transmit diseases or make us sick. Any pathogens that they have aren’t believed to be transmittable to humans.

Bloodsucking Pests

Blood-consuming bugs are a major cause for concern in many countries. Thankfully, modern medicine makes it completely possible to survive being bitten by an infected pest. We still prefer to not be bitten by pests, but it’s good to know that immediate medical attention is available to stop the problem before it gets worse.

The bloodsucking pests and their resulting diseases in the U.S. are:

• Mosquitoes — Mosquitoes kill over 1 million people a year, so it’s essential to seek medical attention immediately if you start having symptoms with a bite. Their common diseases are malaria, West Nile virus, and Zika virus.

• Ticks — Ticks attach and feed for at least 3 days, and they need to be attached for at least 24 hours to transmit a disease. Common tick diseases include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and alpha-gal allergies.

• Fleas — Did you know that fleas were caused the bubonic plague in the 14th century? We don’t have to worry about that in the 21st century, but fleas can still make us and our pets sick. Their common concerns are cat-scratch fever and tapeworms.

• Bed Bugs — As we said earlier, bed bugs don’t spread diseases to humans. They carry pathogens, but these aren’t spread through their bites. The main health concern is if the host is allergic to bed bug bites and develops a rash, in which case, they should consult with their doctor.

Aggravating Allergies

Basic allergies aren’t as fear-inducing as these other diseases, but allergies can still be a major concern for certain people. Some pests agitate allergy/asthma symptoms when they infest a home, which can cause lasting health issues in vulnerable populations. Roaches, dust mites, and stink bugs are the most impactful on this level.

Another area of concern with allergies is if the pests introduce new allergens into the house or building. Wood-boring pests can cause major issues when they burrow further into the wooden framework and walls of a structure. When the damage is extensive, it can allow mold to grow and impact the people living inside.

The most worrisome aspect of all allergy-related pests is people who experience allergic reactions to bites and stings. Bees, wasps, and spiders are closely linked to this concern. People with these allergies can experience anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, when they are bitten or stung. The symptoms include hives, swelling, fainting, and breathing difficulties.

Allergy & Asthma Pests

There are quite a few pests that affect people with specific allergies. However, a few of them stand out above the rest as the most worrisome in this category.

The most concerning pests that have a major impact on allergies and asthma are:

• Roaches — When a growing group of roaches lives in a home, the affected residents may feel their allergy and asthma symptoms worsening. Roaches are a major allergen source with their shed skins and droppings.

• Stinging Insects — This is the most infamous allergy-based pest, thanks to countless stories of an impacted person needing an EpiPen after being stung. Bee and wasp venom can trigger anaphylaxis, and may lead to anaphylactic shock in severe cases.

• Termite — Termites do a lot of damage when they invade a house, as their constant tunneling weakens the structure. Their nests and piles of droppings (gross!) also raise particles and dust throughout the house, which affect sensitive groups.

Protect Your Health with Pointe!

Pest control isn’t just about eliminating bugs you find around the house. It’s also about protecting your family and pets from the health risks that these creepy-crawlies bring. The licensed technicians of Pointe Pest Control are committed to solving local pest issues as safely and efficiently as possible. We don’t waste time with products that are ineffective. Our treatments target current pests and prevent future invaders.

When you choose Pointe, you can expect the best in pest control. Contact us today for a free quote on our efficient services!

Citations

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Fredericks, J. (Dr.) & Henriksen, M. (n.d.). Pests: Everyday threats to the human food supply. Food Safety Magazine. Available at https://www.food-safety.com/articles/3768-sanitation-pests-everyday-threats-to-the-human-food-supply (Accessed on March 27, 2025).

How insects and pests negatively affects human health. (2024, September 23). Ultima Search. Retrieved on March 27, 2025, from https://ultimasearch.com/blogs/how-pests-affect-human-health

Mammoser, G. (2019, July 6). 6 insects that can make you sick this summer. Healthline. Available at https://www.healthline.com/health-news/insects-that-can-make-you-sick (Accessed on March 27, 2025).

Pests that trigger allergy symptoms. (2021, May 3). United Pest Solutions. Retrieved March 27, 2025, from https://www.unitedpestsolutions.com/blog/2021/may/pests-that-trigger-allergy-symptoms/