Terminix Advises Risk of Mosquito-Borne Illness Persists into Fall

Terminix, a leading provider of termite and pest control services and a ServiceMaster (NYSE: SERV) company, cautions Americans living in communities impacted by mosquito-borne illnesses that, despite cooling autumn temperatures, they should remain vigilant in preventing mosquito bites that can transmit serious infections.

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Mosquitoes can survive and reproduce when outdoor temperatures are as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that for much of the United States, mosquitoes may remain active into autumn and even year-round. In 2019 alone, more than 30 cases of the Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV) have been reported in states including Michigan, Connecticut and Florida – the most cases of the rare, serious illness in more than a decade, resulting in several deaths. Because the risk of mosquito bites that transmit EEEV and other mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile persists, homeowners should continue to take steps to help protect themselves and their families.

“As an industry leader, we believe it is important to raise awareness of simple steps families can take to help reduce the risk of mosquito bites that can transmit illness – even after summer ends,” said Matthew Stevenson, president of Terminix Residential. “Terminix provides a variety of solutions to help significantly reduce the population of mosquitoes around homes and yards, including Terminix Quick Guard® Mosquito Service.”

Prominent Mosquito-Borne Illnesses

Disease Name

Carrying Mosquito Species

Regions Impacted

Symptoms

Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus

Bridge vector species, such as Aedes, coquillettidia, and Culex sp. mosquitoes

The Americas and Caribbean. In the United States, primarily reported along the Gulf Coast, East Coast and Great Lakes.

Fever, headache, vomiting, muscle aches, joint pain and fatigue. In rare cases, infection occurs in the brain and spinal cord leading to sudden high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, seizures and coma.

West Nile Virus

Culex sp. mosquitoes

North America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and West Asia.

Fever, headache, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph nodes.

Chikungunya

  • Aedes albopictus (Asian Tiger Mosquito)
  • Aedes aegypti (Yellow Fever Mosquito)

Africa, Asia, Europe, the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and Puerto Rico.

Fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headaches, muscle pain, swelling joints or rashes.

Dengue Fever

  • Aedes albopictus (Asian Tiger Mosquito)
  • Aedes aegypti (Yellow Fever Mosquito)

Central and South America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and Puerto Rico.

High fever, rash and muscle and joint pain. In severe cases, serious bleeding and shock.

Zika Virus

  • Aedes albopictus (Asian Tiger Mosquito)
  • Aedes aegypti (Yellow Fever Mosquito)

Central and South America, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Africa, and South Asia.

Fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes.

Malaria

  • Anopheles quadrimaculatus and Anopheles freeborni

Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Haiti, Dominican Republic.

Chills, high fever, profuse sweating,

headache, nausea,

vomiting and abdominal pain.

Source: U.S. Center for Disease Control, American Mosquito Control Association, World Health Organization, Atlas of Human Infectious Diseases

“It is important that homeowners take steps to help reduce their risk of mosquito bites,” said Dr. Angela Tucker, B.C.E., Terminix Manager, Technical Services. “The CDC recommends wearing long sleeves and pants and using mosquito repellents to reduce the risk of mosquito bites. Be aware of mosquito activity when traveling inside the continental United States as some areas have mosquito activity all year. If you are traveling outside the U.S., follow the CDC traveler guidelines to prevent mosquito bites.”

Homeowners can follow these simple steps to help reduce mosquito populations that can bite and transmit disease near their home:

  1. Keep lawns and landscape trimmed and free of debris. Mosquitoes look for shaded and undisturbed places, like overgrown landscapes, to rest. Continue proper lawn maintenance even after summer months end.
  2. Change water sources weekly. Mosquitoes need only a small amount of water to lay their eggs and reproduce. Empty items that hold water, such as bird baths, tire swings and dog bowls, regularly to reduce opportunities for mosquito reproduction.
  3. Remove sources of standing water. Items left on the lawn or near the house, such as lawn furniture, wood piles or buckets, can create harborage sites for mosquitoes. Declutter property to reduce the number of places mosquitoes can breed.
  4. Keep gutters clear. Maintaining the gutter system is an important step in mosquito control, as blocked gutters can hold water that allows mosquitoes to reproduce. Ensure gutters are cleared of fallen leaves and other natural debris – especially as autumn leaves begin to fall.
  5. Use fans in outdoor seating areas. Because mosquitoes are naturally weak fliers, they tend to avoid flying in windy conditions. Use a fan when sitting outdoors to help deter these pests.

For more information on helping protect your home and family from mosquitoes, visit Terminix.com or call 1-800-TERMINIX.

About Terminix

Terminix is the leading provider of termite and pest control services in the United States. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., Terminix services approximately 2.8 million residential and commercial customers in 47 states and 18 countries. Terminix provides pest control services and protection against termites, rodents and other pests. Terminix is a business unit of ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (SERV), a leading provider of essential residential and commercial services. Terminix is the Official Pest Control Partner of Minor League Baseball™. To learn more about Terminix, visit Terminix.com.

About ServiceMaster

ServiceMaster (NYSE: SERV) solves the homeowner’s dilemma. Every day, we visit tens of thousands of homes and businesses through our extensive service network of expert professionals. Our well-recognized brands include AmeriSpec (home inspections), Copesan (commercial national accounts pest management), Furniture Medic (furniture and cabinet repair), Merry Maids (residential cleaning), ServiceMaster Clean (commercial cleaning), ServiceMaster Restore (restoration and reconstruction), Terminix (termite and pest control), and Terminix Commercial (commercial termite and pest control). Like, follow or visit us at facebook.com/ServiceMaster, linkedin.com/ServiceMaster,twitter.com/ServiceMaster, or servicemaster.com. ServiceMaster is the Official Home Services Provider of Minor League Baseball™.

Contacts:

Drew Blake | 901.201.7151 | drew.blake@servicemaster.com
Sean Lynch | 612.455.8575 | sean.lynch@icfnext.com

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