Work of pest professionals is key to preventing zoonotic disease

Report recommends urgently addressing rise in Lyme disease with effective tick management in key regions, as well as emphasising joint efforts to mitigate health risks.

The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) believes pest professionals and public health bodies should forge closer ties following the UK Health Security Agency’s report on animal-associated infections (England) in December 2023.

The BPCA assessed the impact of pest management on Lyme disease and Leptospirosis in England during the third quarter of 2023 (Q3) and has highlighted the need for public health agencies to recognise and value the vital work of pest professionals in preventing zoonotic disease (caused when a pathogen jumps from an animal – such as rats, mice and birds – to humans).

During Q3, there were 32 confirmed and 21 probable cases of Leptospirosis, which is primarily carried by rodents. Pest management was crucial in minimising human exposure by managing contaminated and rodent infested environments.

There were also 905 confirmed cases of Lyme disease compared to 578 during the same period in 2022. Rats, mice and pigeons carry ticks which transmit the Lyme disease-causing bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi. Pest professionals lower the risk of human exposure by implementing control measures to reduce rodent populations, and subsequently tick populations.

The BPCA says the report showcases pest professionals as key allies in determining effective prevention and control strategies. It recommends greater collaboration between pest professionals and environmental health agencies to mitigate health risks associated with pests and to raise awareness of the risk of inadequate pest management.

“While pest professionals are on the front line of tackling pest issues, we all have a role to play in pest management and protecting public health. Pest management and environmental health are closely linked areas already; building those links can only be a good thing for public health and safety,” said John Horsley, Training and Professional Development Officer at BPCA.

“Infestations need to be dealt with quickly, so they don’t get out of hand, and Environmental Health Professionals can help.”

“Infestations need to be dealt with quickly, so they don’t get out of hand, and Environmental Health Professionals can help,” said Horsely. He added that, with the help of EHPs, the BPCA “can promote that very important message: don’t live and work amongst pests – they cause disease, destruction, and distress.”

William Roberts, CEO, Royal Society for Public Health said: “Pest professionals are already making an enormous contribution to protecting the health of the public. We have worked with the sector over many years, both to offer education pathways in pest management and to make the case at policy level for the impact of the workforce to be recognised and built upon.

“This report shows the ways in which the expertise of pest professionals can be harnessed, and with support from the rest of the public health community, play an even bigger role in preventing disease.”

The report also recommends urgently addressing the rise in Lyme disease with effective tick management in key regions, as well as emphasising joint efforts to mitigate health risks. It also highlights the need for greater collaboration to specifically target waterborne diseases.

Finally, it encourages policymakers to leverage the report's data for evidence-based decision-making, in order to guide resource allocation and policy development to effectively curb the spread of diseases linked to pests.

Image credit: Shutterstock