Nuisances
Nuisances cause inconvenience or annoyance to humans; however, they do not transmit disease. Examples of nuisances include lice and bed bugs. Unfortunately, the health department is unable to provide funding for nuisance control and/or removal. A professional pest control company should be obtained for the control and removal of any infestations.
RODENTS & PESTS:
Rodents and Pests are an increasing nuisance in the rural area. To prevent rodents from finding a home on your property take the following steps.
ELIMINATE FOOD SOURCES
- Contain garbage in approved containers
- Don’t put recyclables or garbage out too early for pick up
- If you have bird feeders, make sure they are rodent proof and spilled seed is cleaned up daily
- Maintain gardens and pick up fallen fruit and produce
ELIMINATE WATER SOURCES
- Eliminate standing water, (empty buckets or drill a hole to prevent collection, cover stacked tires)
- Keep bird baths clean and monitor for rodents
ELIMINATE HARBORAGE (PLACES TO LIVE)
- Compost piles
- Eliminate brush piles
- Keep Grass and weeds under control
- Monitor for burrows
Lice
All household members or other close contacts to someone with an active lice infestation should be checked for lice. Anyone who is found to have active lice should be treated. The best course of action is to focus on physically removing the nits (eggs) which are generally found near the scalp/hair root by using a fine comb, fingernails, or cutting hair strands that contain nits. This is tedious but is the most effective way to get rid of the nits. Lice can only crawl, they cannot fly or jump, and pets do not spread lice. Other options are to use medicated shampoos such as:
- permethrin 1% (best option). One application of permethrin is usually enough to kill adult lice and nits, but a second treatment can be applied one week later.
- pyrethrin (generally need 2 treatments, 7-10 days apart). This is an effective method to kill adult lice fast, but it is short-acting and won’t kill nits after the first application.
Otherwise, there are prescription medications/shampoos that can be used. Generally, it is recommended to try one of the above-mentioned methods and complete one round of treatment before trying a prescription.
Preventing head-to-head contact from other household members and classmates is important to minimize the risk of transmission of lice. If household furniture (bed, couch, pillows, etc) is being used by someone who has lice, others should not come into contact with it as lice can crawl and get onto these surfaces. Household members should not use the same hairbrushes, hats or other hair accessories. Hairbrushes should be soaked in hot water or rubbing alcohol for one hour. Other clothing, bedding, towels, pillows, furniture, rugs, stuffed animals, etc should also be cleaned. This can be done by washing items in hot water and drying on the hottest setting for at least 20 minutes. Items that are unable to be washed can be dry-cleaned, put in the freezer or stored in a plastic bag for 2 weeks. Flooring such as carpet/area rugs should be thoroughly vacuumed, and hard surface flooring cleaned with warm, soapy water. Vacuum bags should be disposed of after use. Fumigant sprays or fogs should not be used as they can be toxic and are ineffective to control lice.
It is important that all household members participate in getting checked and treated (if active lice exist) to prevent the spread to each other and others.
RESOURCES:
CDC-Lice-head lice treatments
BED BUGS
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, flat, parasitic insects that feed on the blood of people and animals while they sleep. Bed bugs are reddish-brown in color, wingless, range from 1mm to 7mm (roughly the size of Lincoln’s head on a penny), and can live several months without a blood meal.
The best way to beat bed bugs is to be informed about them! Bed bugs can infest any home or area. If you think you have bed bugs, don’t panic! With proper identification and control, bed bugs can be removed from any place. Bed bugs do not transmit disease to humans. While they can be very irritating, they are not a serious health threat.
A bed bug bite affects each person differently. They can range from no signs from the bite to a small bite mark (which in some people take up to 14 days to develop), to a serious allergic reaction. Bed bugs are not known to spread disease; however, an allergic reaction or scratching that leads to a skin infection may require medical attention.
Signs of bed bug infestation include:
• Matter left behind as bed bugs molt and grow
• Live bugs in the fold of mattresses and sheets
• Tiny dark spots on the mattress and bedding from bed bug excrement
• Rusty–colored spots from the bugs being crushed
• Sweet musty odor
Tips to prevent bed bugs:
- Always check any secondhand furniture, fabric household items, clothing, beds and couches for signs of bed bug activity before you bring it into your home.
- Signs of bed bug activity include rusty or reddish colored stains on bed sheets or mattresses; small dark spots found which can bleed onto fabric like a marker would; seeing tiny eggs and/or pale-yellow skins that are shed by bed bugs; live bed bugs.
- If purchasing secondhand items such as clothing, bedding, pillows, stuffed animals or furniture, take the following precautions immediately:
- Clothing: wash with hot water and dry on the hottest setting in laundry facilities. Heat above 120 degrees will kill bed bugs.
- Items that are unable to be put into the washer should be thoroughly steam cleaned, vacuumed and/or wiped down with a disinfectant.
- Use a high-quality protective cover that encases mattresses and box springs. Inspect the cover regularly for holes.
- Reduce clutter in your home to reduce the number of hiding places for bed bugs.
- Vacuum frequently and dispose of bag or place the debris from canister into a bag and dispose of after each use.
- If you share laundry facilities, transport clothing to be washed in plastic bags. Make sure dryer is on high heat; Remove from dryer directly into bag and fold clothing at home.
- Around the perimeter of the home, seal any cracks or crevices.
Tips for traveling:
- Check hotel mattresses immediately when entering the room. Place your luggage in the bathroom while checking the mattresses.
- In hotel rooms, use luggage racks to hold your luggage rather than setting it on the floor or on the bed. Keep luggage away from the bed or walls.
- When returning home, unpack clothing directly into a washing machine and inspect your luggage. When putting clothing in the dryer, place on the highest heat setting.
- Store suitcases away from your bedroom, such as in the garage or basement. Do not store suitcases under your bed.
Where bed bugs hide:
- In the seams of chairs and couches, between cushions, in the folds of curtains
- Inside electrical outlets and appliances
- Under loose wallpaper and wall hangings
- In drawer joints
- Where the wall and ceiling meet
- Behind the baseboards
There are a few different ways to get rid of bed bugs:
- Steam treatment—mattresses, box springs and furniture can be treated with a steam producing device. The high temperatures will kill the bed bugs.
- Heat treatment—heating a room and its contents to above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is done through the use of a specially designed and approved heating device.
- Chemical treatment—pest control companies will apply approved chemicals according to the manufacturer’s instructions (specifically labeled for indoor use and designed to kill bed bugs) in cracks and crevices where bed bugs hide.
- Vacuuming—a vacuum is used to physically remove insects from infested areas.
*Treatment will be most successful if clutter is removed as there would be fewer hiding places for the bed bugs.
Controlling bed bugs can take time and patience. Public Health serves as a resource for information.
Resources:
Bed Bug Frequently Asked Questions
Guidelines for Prevention and Management of Bed Bugs in Shelters and Group Living Facilities