How do cockroaches spread disease?

Cockroaches are synonymous with filth and poor hygiene. 

Their feeding and nesting habits mean that they can easily pick up a variety of disease-causing microorganisms from the rotting and dirty materials they crawl and feed on.

The German cockroach, in particular, is a common pest in indoor and food-handling áreas, in homes, restaurants, commercial kitchens, and hospitals.

For businesses that handle food, cockroaches indicate poor food hygiene practices and can lead to food safety regulations and standards being violated.

If you’ve found cockroaches in your business or home, even just a few, be aware that you may have a full-blown infestation.

Cockroach Diseases

Cockroaches don’t transmit diseases directly to humans, they don’t “bite” like mosquitoes, ticks and fleas, but they can transmit diseases to humans indirectly by contaminating food or surfaces that humans can ingest or touch.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO): “Cockroaches are one of the most important pests found in homes, apartments, food handling facilities, hospitals and health care facilities around the world”.

There are more than 60 pathogenic bacteria, fungi, moulds, parasitic worms and viruses found in cockroaches, including: Salmonella,Campylobacter, Listeria, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus faecalis, Giardia and Shigella dysenteriae.

How do cockroaches spread diseases?

As they are reservoirs of disease-causing organisms and are not themselves vectors, cockroaches use other means to spread diseases, through:

Cockroach droppings

The unhygienic eating habits of this pest make cockroaches great transmitters of harmful pathogens through their droppings.

When a cockroach feeds on something contaminated, such as a piece of raw chicken or animal faeces, the microorganisms present enter its system and can remain dormant or multiply in its digestive system.

Cockroach saliva and vomit

Cockroach saliva and vomit are also responsible for spreading microorganisms.

Cockroaches sometimes excrete saliva on food before ingesting it and also periodically expel partially digested food.

Both can spread pathogens acquired through eating contaminated food.

Direct contact

Cockroaches can be found in dirty environments where there is plenty of food, shelter and a suitable environment for them to survive.

These include sewers, pits, drains and rubbish bins, where they come into contact with a range of micro-organisms, such as bacteria, viruses and fungi.

These attach themselves to the cockroaches’ bodies through the dust and liquid materials that are found there.

For example, the legs of a cockroach have spines that are sensitive to touch and provide a very large surface area for the collection of pathogens.

Anything a cockroach touches or rubs can become contaminated.

How to prevent cockroaches from transmitting diseases

The most effective way to prevent cockroaches from spreading disease in your home or business is to practise general food hygiene.

This means removing any food sources – including small spillages and food particles – that attract them to your property.

Reducing the possibility of these crawling insects getting in is fundamental.

Care should include:

– Eliminating food sources for cockroaches

– Thorough cleaning of the place where food is stored, prepared, cooked and eaten

– Building maintenance to seal cracks and openings through which cockroaches can enter

– Proper hand sanitisation to avoid catching an infection from contaminated objects or surfaces

If you have found cockroaches or signs of cockroaches in your home or business, the best way to ensure you get rid of cockroaches is to contact our office.

Our cockroach removal and prevention specialists are ready to discuss the signs and evidence of cockroaches and can help you find out where they are hiding, how they are getting in and the best options for removing them.

Contact us and book a free check-up!