The City of Angels Has Become the City of Rats

Thanks to some great NBC4 I-Team, we now know the scope of an epidemic which many Los Angeles natives have been greatly affected by and others are just beginning to see the repercussions from. Uncollected garbage has long been a problem for the city, and although previous attempts have been made to remedy the situation, these piles of trash continue to pose a dire health threat to the community. It is no secret that rat’s love trash. Left uncollected, these garbage piles can create a magnet like effect for all manner of rodents. If this wasn't bad enough, the major problem isn’t the rats themselves, but rather, what they carry with them.

"Trash and food waste attracts rats. It does pose a public health risk. An out-of-control rat population can even lead to the spread of dangerous strains of salmonella and bubonic plague." -Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, UCLA Infectious Disease Specialist

"Trash and food waste attracts rats. It does pose a public health risk. An out-of-control rat population can even lead to the spread of dangerous strains of salmonella and bubonic plague." -Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, UCLA Infectious Disease Specialist

Recently, Southern California has had an unprecedented surge in the Typhus disease. In 2018, 57 cases have been reported, 20 of which originated in Pasadena alone. This disease can be detrimental to the health of those infected. The spread of typhus has been shown to have originated due to an increase of flea infestations in the area. Fleas are known carriers of Typhus disease and they love to use rodents as a primary method for transportation and infestation. Therefore, if rodents love trash, fleas love rodents, and fleas carry typhus, you can start to see where this becomes a serious problem for Los Angeles residents.

"I can’t walk down the street without thinking that a flea could jump on me," - Estela Lopez, a local business owner who operates near an uncollected garbage pile.

The I-Team has reported they have learned of no future plans in effect or currently being implemented when it comes to dealing with the piles of garbage popping up all over the county. Hopefully the city will find a solution soon, but even when they do the effects of the Typhus outbreak may only be just beginning. Therefore, it is imperative that Los Angeles home owners, landlords, and business owners act fast to combat any rodent or flea infestations on their property.

At UnBugMe Pest Control, we offer free rodent inspections and affordable treatment for both fleas and rodents. We also offer rodent proofing services and can provide any information you may need to prevent/ resolve an infestation. We take this issue incredibly seriously. Los Angeles is our home and we would like to see it be a safe and clean community in which its residents can truly thrive.

Information is key, so please refer to the following articles if you’re worried you may have seen signs of a rodent or flea infestation. They will outline what you should look for and what steps you need to take in order to resolve the situation.

You can read more about the Typhus outbreak in the blog we posted about it last year. CLICK HERE to view.
Read more on this story and how NBC4 uncovered this epidemic HERE