Rat Epidemic in NYC

The rat population in the U.S. range from 90 million to 100 million, or about half as many rats as people. For New York City, the estimates run as high as 8,000,000, or one rat per person. The U.S. Department of the Interior figures that a rat eats 40 Ibs. of food a year, and spoils twice as much. The nation’s total rat damage is roughly $1 billion a year.

people are bitten each year in the U.S. run to 50,000 or more. New York City averages 600 reported cases a year. As in the rest of the U.S., 90% of the victims are young children.

The female rat is capable of breeding at four months, and usually produces four litters, each of six or more young, in her reproductive year.rats in long-ago typhus epidemics, there is no doubt that they and their fleas transmit what doctors call murine typhus, a milder but perennial and widespread form of the disease. In their travels from sewers to trash cans to kitchens, rats may carry the germs of epidemic jaundice, tularemia, typhoid fever and severe food poisoning, the parasites of trichinosis, and even rabies virus.

The situation in New York City has gone on for years, and science does admit that they no longer respond to the old tried and true ways of the past to be rid of the vermin. But if this situation does not come under control, the rats will multiply far faster than the human race and we could see, in the worst case scenario, another plague epidemic, which is why science has to come up with a toxin that will take these rats out, obviously with something strong and resilient.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and city Health Department should be commended for their efforts by realizing that the rat population lingers most in the areas where the garbage is stored after waste cans from the platforms are emptied. But the garbage is sitting for days, and the rats, well no wonder they aren’t budging. They have food and a warm place to stay. But before it reaches epic proportions, should not something be done? A new and powerful poison or making sure the garbage does not linger for days in one area or bring in a crew to hole up some of those cracks and crannies that rats like to hide out in and call home.

In the course of recent studies on murine typhus fever at Tampa, Florida, it was necessary to maintain a culture of oriental rat fleas, Xenopsylla cheopis. White mice, Mus musculus, were used as hosts to these ectoparasites, according to a technique modified from one in use at the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine at Orlando. The relationships between flea and mouse were observed over a two-year period.

During the same time it was frequently desired to feed fleas on roof rats, Rattus rattus, and comparable observations were made. Laboratory personnel, responsible for these routine operations, reported a divergence of flea behavior with respect to the two species of host. Subsequent observations have repeatedly confirmed their findings. These later observations are here reported since they may have bearing, as a side light, on the epidemiology of murine typhus fever and other diseases of commensal rodents in which ectoparasites serve as vectors.

Deer mice are the primary reservoir for hantavirus in Washington State; exposure to their nests, urine, feces or saliva places individuals at risk for developing infection.To identify rodent sources of infection.To design more effective control or prevention methods. To better characterize the epidemiology of this organism.

Rat-bite fever occurs most often among laboratory workers who handle lab rats in their jobs, and among people who live in poor conditions, with rodent infestation. Children are particularly likely to be bitten by rodents infesting their home and are, therefore, most likely to contract rat-bite fever. Other animals that can carry the types of bacteria responsible for this illness are mice, squirrels, weasels, dogs, and cats. One kind of bacteria can cause the same illness if it is ingested in unpasteurized milk or in water that has been contaminated with rat waste.

Preventing mouse infestation: Keep food preparation, cooking, food, (including pet food) areas and storage facilities covered and clean.Contain and elevate garbage bins.Seal holes and enterY ports, if possible by nailing a metal plate such as flashing, across the opening. If that is not possible such as with a small crack, stuff the crack with steel wool. The steel wool cuts their noses and their feet and they will give up and try to find another warm place to invade.Once you have the steel wool in place, you can seal up the crack against drafts with spray foam or caulking.

If you ever have any bug related issues in New York City, feel free to call us either at Beyond Pest Control. Once again, and I can’t stress this enough we are on call twenty four hours a day seven days a week to kill those bugs, we aren’t kidding whether you call us at 9 am or midnight we will be available to take your call and either get rid of the bug infestation, or answer any questions you may have concerning the bug issue. I can honestly guarantee that there will be someone to answer that call. We make it our business to make you bug free!

For more information check out the rest of our site and You can also from time to time find helpful hints on http://nypestpro.blogspot.com.

Beyond Pest Control.

Our pest control specialists service all NYC boroughs, including Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island (both Nassau & Suffolk counties), Staten Island and even both Westchester & Rockland counties.