How to avoid flies and cockroaches at home this summer

Summer is upon us and so will be unwelcome flies‚ cockroaches‚ mice and rats which enjoy perfect breeding conditions in warm weather – unless you manage your household waste carefully.

Cape Town’s Environmental Health Department is ramping up its efforts to control pests and the diseases they spread over the summer.

“While pests are an inconvenience that affects most households‚ they can also introduce potentially harmful diseases if not managed properly‚” the city warned on Tuesday.

Cockroaches flourish in storm water and sewer systems‚ and are able to spread disease from bacteria if they come into contact with food.

“A single female fly can lay up to 600 eggs in organic or decaying matter like wet food waste‚ compost heaps‚ animal faeces … from which maggots hatch within 48 hours. The maggots then pupate and the adult flies emerge. Flies spread diseases such as dysentery and gastro-enteritis‚” said the city.

“Household pests are a reality for all of us. While we might not be able to eliminate them completely‚ I do urge residents to be mindful of how they manage their waste – especially in the warmer months. Flies‚ cockroaches and rodents flourish in waste‚ so I appeal to the public to consider how and where they’re disposing of household waste‚” said the city’s mayoral committee member for Health‚ Councillor Siyabulela Mamkeli.

Here are several tips to deter household pests:

• Seal wet kitchen waste in plastic bags before disposing of it in your bin.

• Store rubbish bags and bins in a cool place.

• Keep bins closed to prevent flies from entering.

• Wash and disinfect your bin after every removal.

• Keep refuse bags out of reach of animals.

• Collect and dispose of animal faeces daily.

• Do not litter and dump refuse on open spaces.

– TMG Digital