Public Health Rodent Control Certification Awarded to Thrasher

Thrasher Pest Control is the first company in California to earn the Public Health certification in rodent control. Mice and rats pose such a huge public health risk that the accreditation authority for pest management, QualityPro, in cooperation with the CDC, released rigorous standards for professional rodent control to reduce rodent-borne disease outbreaks. We are proud to be the first company in California to have achieved this important certification for quality rodent control service.

When most people see evidence of mice or rats—feces, chewed food packages, nesting material—Garrett Thrasher sees a biohazard. Garrett is co-owner and general manager of Thrasher Termite & Pest Control in San Diego. He knows the threat to public health posed by rodents and made sure that Thrasher Pest Control was the first company in California to achieve the rigorous QualityPro Public Health certification for rodent control.

Exposure to rodents triggers asthma attacks, results in food poisoning (Salmonella), exposes people to ringworm and tapeworm parasites, contributes to plague outbreaks linked to rat fleas, and to hantavirus associated with deer mice and harvest mice. Because of the potential for disease, the National Center for Healthy Housing and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend special care be taken when catching rodents and disposing of dead rodents.

“The QualityPro Public Health certification ensures that pest management companies follow science-based standards when controlling pests of public health significance, such as mice and rats,” said Garrett Thrasher. “The training needed to become certified was both grueling and welcome. It proves that my team has the competence to solve even the most challenging rodent infestations in San Diego.”

The importance of having competent rodent specialists in San Diego is extremely great. The county is home to 6 rodent species of public health concern: House Mouse, Deer Mouse, Harvest Mouse, Norway Rat, Roof Rat, and Pack Rat.

Because mice and rats pose a serious public health risk, QualityPro, the national credentialing authority for professional pest management, worked closely with an 11-person task force to develop the QualityPro Public Health service certification standards and established a formal process for earning and keeping the credentials. The task force included representatives from the National Pest Management Association, the National Environmental Health Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , and the Entomological Society of America, in addition to participants from vector control, universities, and pest management companies. Grants from National Center for Healthy Housing and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation supported the development of the Public Health credential program.

“When it comes to managing pests that threaten health and wellbeing, the pest control industry has a tremendous opportunity to do good,” said QualityPro Executive Director Allison Allen, BCE. “QualityPro plays a role in the fight against public health pests by providing industry-wide standards and a national exam so that pest management professionals can be sure they are offering the best possible service when a customer calls and health is on the line. We encourage all companies that do rodent work to check out QualityPro Public Health and inquire about steps for certification. The QualityPro nationally recognized certification gives communities an easy way to identify and select professional pest management companies as partners in the creation of healthy homes.”

ABOUT US

Thrasher Termite & Pest Control of So Cal, Inc. aims higher than simple pest management: we make homes healthy. Our highly trained team loves what they do– treating clients as neighbors and pests as disease-infested challenges to conquer. Using techniques that are high-impact on pests yet low-impact on the environment, we offer the peace of mind that comes with responsible, kid- and pet-friendly pest management. Founded in 2009, Thrasher Pest is 100% locally owned.