Dr. Gerhard Verdoorn, Operations and Stewardship Manager for CropLife South Africa, claims the country's communities saw a nearly pandemic cockroach outbreak due to the previous summer's extreme wetness and humidity
Dr. Gerhard Verdoorn, Operations and Stewardship Manager for CropLife South Africa, claims the country's communities saw a nearly pandemic cockroach outbreak due to the previous summer's extreme wetness and humidity.
"Cockroaches are commonplace, but calls to the CropLife SA emergency number indicated that the German cockroach population had exploded nationwide. Their population is fueled by the unsanitary conditions prevalent in South Africa and the country's climate. Mr. Gerhard Verdoorn, M.D said earlier.
He said the surge in cockroach infestation caused an uproar of large-scale unlawful use of pesticides. These pesticides are not registered for indoor use, and have possibly disastrous effects.
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Verdoorn warned the public to follow the nation's statutes and only use registered pesticides strictly according to the instructions on the label to avoid health impacts on themselves, their families, or their clients.
HOMEOWNERS, THE FAST-FOOD SECTOR, AND HOSPITALITY URGED TO ACT QUICKLY
Verdoorn also asked South African homeowners, the fast-food business, the retail sector, and the hospitality industry to act rapidly to stem the tide of cockroaches.
Here is what you can start doing to help eradicate the menace
- A filthy kitchen filled with food from previous days and widely available pet food necessitates immediate attention to prevent these nasty critters from invading a home and establishing a colony.
- Refuse bags should be sealed in plastic bins with wheels or drums to keep the roaches out for good.
- Floor surfaces, possible breeding grounds, and hiding places in kitchens, pantries, and bathrooms must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with a diluted sodium hypochlorite solution (household bleach).
Mr. Gerhard also informed that the cockroach outbreak does not warrant unlawful activities that pose a severe risk to people's health."