(Newswire.net — November 23, 2016) — One of the most common problems in the food industry is mice. These pests will seek shelter where they can easily find food and water. This is particularly true when the weather starts to get cold and mice are looking for a warm home. What can be done to keep rodents from deciding to take up residence in your restaurant?
Regular Inspections
Inspect all areas, particularly the kitchen. Although mice will hide anywhere, they like to be close to their food source. Check trash cans, cracks or crevices, kitchen equipment, storage bins and any other places where they may hide. If your restaurant is between other buildings, they could be traveling from one to the other.
Check for signs that mice are or have been living or eating here. Feces or damage from them chewing into food packages or boxes are sure signs that there is a problem. These areas need to be inspected on a regular basis. There may not have been a problem a week ago but they can move in at any time.
Best Forms of Removal
If you find evidence of a mouse infestation, you can take steps to rid your restaurant of the problem. There are snap traps as well as the sticky traps. The sticky type may not be an option because the mice do not die immediately. Poisons are not recommended in a restaurant because the mice may die inside and this can cause a terrible smell. Additionally, poisons contain chemicals and they can be harmful to use in areas where food is prepared.
Many people find that calling pest control specialists like UltraPro Pest Protection is the easiest way to get rid of this problem. Mice are known carriers of serious diseases. This is why they are explicitly mentioned when it comes to health codes for food service. Even if the hygienic traps are used to kill and seal the mice inside, they remain a threat until they are removed and the area has been thoroughly cleaned.
What Diseases do Mice Carry?
Mice carry and can transmit several diseases to people. One such disease is a viral infection known as Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM). It can cause fluid on the brain and is very dangerous to pregnant women and their unborn children. They also carry a bacterial disease, Leptospirosis. The symptoms of this disease mimic those of other illness or the person may not display any symptoms. Left untreated, Leptospirosis can result in kidney or liver failure or even death.
Mice can transmit the Plague, Rat-Bite-Fever, and Tularemia. These are all bacterial infections that can be fatal without the proper treatment. Salmonellosis is another bacterial infection caused by consuming food or drinking water that has been contaminated by the feces from rats.
This is why it is important to take care of this problem as quickly as possible, especially in a restaurant. Many people could become seriously ill or even die as a result of food or beverage contamination by mice or rats.
Eliminating the Risks
The best thing a restaurant owner can do is to prevent the infestation in the beginning. This is such a serious concern that the Center for Disease Control or CDC has recommended procedures for cleaning up after a rodent infestation. Contamination from mice can be easily spread and the entire area where the infestation was found must be cleaned and thoroughly disinfected.
One of the ways of preventing this problem in your restaurant is to consult with pest control specialists like UltraPro Pest Protection. They can inspect your business and if a problem is found, they are specifically trained to assess the infestation and deal with it accordingly. It is far less expensive to prevent the problem in the first place, but should it occur, you will want to know it is being taken care of as quickly as possible.
UltraPro Pest Protection
23 Bergenline Avenue
Westwood, NJ 07675
877-492-2252
http://ultrapropestcontrol.com
With over 30 years of experience in eliminating bed bugs, termites, and rodents, UltraPro Pest Protection is emerging as New York and New Jersey’s leading pest control service for homeowners and commercial businesses.