Los Angeles and other California cities are overflowing with rodents that could trigger an epidemic

In Los Angeles and other cities in the state of California, the number of rodents is increasing, which exposes the state to the risk of an epidemic affecting human health, writes Fox News.

Фото: Depositphotos

The Reform California study provides data on cases of rodent-induced disease over the past six months. For example, in Los Angeles, a police officer fell ill with typhus, and in the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant a rat fell from the ceiling on the client's menu.

“California is overrun by rodents. Without immediate, urgent action from state and local governments, we could face significant economic costs and risk a public health crisis,” said Reform California Chairman Carl DeMaio.

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Rodents can carry dangerous diseases such as typhoid, plague and salmonella.

“Rodents rarely bite people, so diseases are rarely transmitted this way, but the number of cases of rodents biting city workers has increased. More often, these diseases are transmitted through fleas and feces,” the report says.

The study surveyed 23 pest control companies in California, and they reported that compared to last year, the number of requests for the destruction of rats increased by almost 60%. The study included data from Orkin, which conducted its research and called Los Angeles the second most populous city infected with rats after Chicago.

DeMayo believes that two reasons influence the increase in the number of rodents:

“First, there is a growing number of homeless people, which is a food source for rodents. Second, many local governments, including Los Angeles, have banned the most effective methods for identifying and exterminating rats,” he says.

Reform California stated that the rodent population can be controlled with anticoagulant rodenticides, which were banned in the 2014 year. This, according to a group of researchers, has led to a surge in the growth of the rodent population.

DeMayo appealed to Califonia Governor Gavin Nousomu to declare a public health emergency in California and demand from community organizations to resolve this situation. He also called on lawmakers to repeal the 1788 bill, which prohibits the use of more resistant rodent chemicals.

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Proponents of the bill say that poisons that kill rats also kill other wildlife and are dangerous for children who may accidentally eat them.

Besides the fact that last year the number of homeless people in Los Angeles County increased by 12%, another issue is the illegal garbage disposal. Last month, 85 enterprises in the city center did not have proper waste containers.

The Los Angeles City Council recently allocated over $ 6,5 million to the Los Angeles Sanitation Bureau to cover the costs of hygiene and medical services, as well as an increase in garbage collection teams.

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