Why Fly Control Is Important!

For every fly seen, there are an estimated 19 more that are hidden from view. This means that humans normally do not see 95% of the flies that are present at an infestation. Also, one pair of flies can produce more than one million offspring in as little as six to eight weeks. Flies spread diseases readily because they move quickly from rotting, disease laden garbage (among other disease laden product) to exposed food and utensils.

Flies easily collect and transport dieseases, since they live and breed in disgusting environments.  The hair on the flies body collect the bacteria and organisms, This process can cause millions of microorganisms to be quickly transferred from the fly to the exposed objects.  Flies also have disgusting eating habits and happily vomit on their food to liquify it, making it easier for them to digest.

More than 100 pathogens are associated with the common house fly including: E. coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus and Shigella. These pathogens can cause disease in humans, including cholera, hepatitis, typhoid fever, bacillary
dysentery, polio, tuberculosis, ophthalmia and infantile diarrhea.

The sanitation problems that a fly can cause should concern all proprietors of establishments that serve food. A single fly can cause an illness outbreak at a restaurant, the shutdown of a hospital operating room, as well as the complete shutdown of a food processing plant. Therefore, preventative measures are the most efficient and effective way to control this problem. It should be a law to control flying insects and you owe it to your customers and yourselves to ensure flies are not spreading disease on the premises.

Developing an Effective and Comprehensive Fly Control Program

The FDA 1997 Food Code states "insects and other pest are capable of transmitting diseases to man by contaminating food and food contact surfaces. Effective measures must be taken to control their presence in food establisments.

There are two recommended ways to develop an effective fly control program. First, having a sanitary establishment is the best way to avoid a fly outbreak. Flies thrive upon conditions that are unsanitary and bacteria filled. Areas that are damp and warm (standing water, drains, unchanged mop buckets) are the perfect place for a fly infestation to begin. By cleaning regularly and maintaining these high-problem areas, you can help prevent a major infestation.

Even if an establishment is kept clean and hygienic, it is likely that some flies will enter the premises. Doors and windows, even if seldom opened, will typically give flies an opportunity to enter an establishment. Remember, two flies can multiply to over a million within six or eight weeks. Therefore, it is essential to have an indoor fly control program in place.