ANIMAL TRANSMITTED DISEASES

Many animals and birds of all types and sizes would love to make their home in your
nice warm chimney and there are many of good reasons NOT to let this happen to
you.  A professional chimney sweep can "animal proof" your chimney.

When your chimney is not in use, animals tend to find shelter within the cozy
opening. Animal debris and droppings can be a serious health hazard and should
not be allowed to accumulate in your chimney.

Diseases are a major concern when allowing animals to take residence in your
chimney. Diseases are spread through the handling or inhaling of animal waste.

Campylobacter: A bacterial disease which is acquired by ingesting animal feces or
water and foodstuffs contaminated by infected feces.  Most people who become ill
with campylobacteriosis get diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever within 2
to 5 days after exposure to the organism. The diarrhea may be bloody and can be
accompanied by nausea and vomiting


Salmonellosis: Is probably the most common disease spread from animal to man. A
bacterial disease of the intestinal tract causing diarrhea as a primary symptom.
Spread to humans through the ingestion of infected feces or water and foodstuffs
that have been contaminated. Almost all mammals and some birds and reptiles can
have salmonella organisms in their feces.



Shigellosis: A bacterial disease producing a potentially severe diarrhea which
include signs of weakness and dehydration. The usual hosts for this organism are
non human primates (monkeys) and it is spread via the fecal-oral route. This
disease closely resembles a salmonella infection and is typically difficult to
diagnose in humans unless there is a suspicion of exposure to an infected primate.



Giardiasis: A protozoan disease of intestinal tract leading to diarrhea which can be
intermittent and very chronic. Organisms are obtained by ingestion of contaminated
feces or foodstuffs contaminated by feces. It can also be obtained from drinking
water that has been contaminated. Millions of germs can be released in a bowel
movement from an infected human or animal. Giardia is found in soil, food, water,
or surfaces that have been contaminated with the feces from infected animals.



Amoebiasis: A protozoan disease of the intestinal tract leading to diarrhea. It is
obtained by ingestion of contaminated feces or food stuffs and water. Symptoms  
are usually gastrointestinal including diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain or
discomfort and fever. Symptoms take from a few days to a few weeks to develop
and manifest themselves, but usually it is about two to four weeks.



Toxoplasmosis: A protozoan infection spread most likely by cat feces, but also
obtainable from undercooked meals. This disease leads to general malaise or flu
like symptoms in most people as the parasites migrate through the body tissues.
While the parasite is found throughout the world, more than 60 million people in the
United States may be infected with the Toxoplasma parasite. Of those who are
infected, very few have symptoms because a healthy person's immune system
usually keeps the parasite from causing illness. However, pregnant women and
individuals who have compromised immune systems should be cautious.


Tetanus: A bacterial infection in wounds contaminated with the organisms which
are common in the feces of many animals. Humans develop a rigid muscle
paralysis due to the absorption of a toxin produced by the clostridial bacteria
growing in a wound.



Psittacosis: A bacterial infection obtained by inhaling the aerosolized bacteria from
infected bird feces. Pigeons, Parrots, Parakeets and Lovebirds have been
implicated in human infections. In humans, this disease is usually manifest as a
respiratory illness of varying degrees.



Visceral Larval Migrans: A condition that results from the migration of parasite
larvae through the body tissues of an animal. As a general group, the roundworms
(ascarids) are a set of parasites in which visceral larval migrans is a routine part of
their life cycle. In humans, visceral larval migrans has been associated with the
ingestion of animal feces or soil heavily contaminated with ascarid eggs. Cat, dog,
pig and raccoon ascarids are four roundworms implicated in human cases of
visceral larval migrans. A person with visceral larval migrans can have symptoms
ranging from mild abdominal upset and discomfort to a more generalized soreness.
These are cases of central nervous system inflammation due to ascarids migrating
into spine, brain or even the eyes.
Dog ascarid is Toxocara canis.
Cat ascarid is Toxocara cati.
Pig ascarid is Ascaris suum.
Raccoon ascarid is Bayliascaris procyonis.


Histoplasmosis: A fungal infection which is probably the most common systemic
fungal infection in man and dogs in North America. The fungus is most commonly
found in surface soil heavily contaminated with the droppings from birds such as
pigeons, starlings and chickens. This disease can also be obtained from bat feces.
Victims are infected by inhalation of the fungus with dust particles when the
contaminated soil is disturbed. Signs of the disease include respiratory problems
due to lung infection, or a more generalized problem such as lymph node
enlargement. The liver and spleen may also be swollen. In addition, the disease
may affect the intestinal tract leading to problems such as diarrhea and weight loss.


Blastomycosis: A fungal infection affecting man and dogs primarily. The disease is
acquired by inhalation of spores from disturbed soil contaminated by this organism.
Lung infections are the first stage of this disease, but it may become more
widespread leading to swelling of the lymph nodes.


DISEASES SPREAD BY URINE CONTACT:

Leptospirosis: A bacterial disease spread by contact with animal urine. Most
mammalian species can carry this disease. Symptoms range from fever and
malaise to meningitis with jaundice.  At right is the effect on a persons infected
kidneys.


DISEASES SPREAD BY BITES:

Rabies: A viral disease spread primarily through the saliva of affected animals. Any
mammalian species can be infected with rabies virus. The carnivores which could
include raccoons and rats etc. and bats are the highest incidence carriers with risk
of exposure to man. Human infections are basically fatal once established.

FYI - With a chimney inspection and chimney repair by a professional chimney
sweep animal invasion and it's attendant problems can be avoided.
SAVE UP TO $500    PER  YEAR ON    ENERGY COSTS     click here

AREAS SERVED:

IN AND AROUND THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY INCLUDING:

STUDIO CITY, SHERMAN OAKS, ENCINO, TARZANA, WOODLAND HILLS, CALABASAS, HIDDEN HILLS, WEST HILLS,
WINNETKA, CANOGA PARK, CHATSWORTH, PORTER RANCH, GRANADA HILLS, NORTHRIDGE, NORTH HILLS, LAKE
VIEW TERRACE, SHADOW HILLS, SUN VALLEY, VERDUGO CITY, RESEDA, VAN NUYS, SAN FERNANDO, NORTH
HOLLYWOOD, VALLEY VILLAGE, MISSION HILLS, PACOIMA, ARLETA, PANORAMA CITY, AND SYLMAR, over through
SUNLAND, TUJUNGA, MONTROSE, LA CRESCENTA, AND LA CANADA/FLINTRIDGE.

ADDITIONAL CITIES GOING EAST INCLUDING:

BURBANK, GLENDALE, PASADENA, SOUTH PASADENA, SAN MARINO, TEMPLE CITY, SIERRA MADRE, ARCADIA,
MONROVIA, DUARTE, AZUSA, CHARTER OAK, COVINA, WEST COVINA, IRWINDALE, GLENDORA, SAN DIMAS, LA VERNE,
POMONA, CLAREMONT, UPLAND, SAN ANTONIO HEIGHTS, ONTARIO, SAN GABRIEL, EAGLE ROCK, GLASSEL PARK,
HIGHLAND PARK, ATWATER VILLAGE, ALHAMBRA, EL MONTE, BALDWIN PARK, MONTCLAIR, HACIENDA HEIGHTS,
ROWLAND HEIGHTS, LA PUENTE, DIAMOND BAR, PHILLIPS RANCH, CHINO, CHINO HILLS, RANCHO CUCAMONGA AND
SURROUNDING AREAS

WE ALSO WORK IN:

HOLLYWOOD, HOLLYWOOD HILLS AND WEST HOLLYWOOD, AS WELL AS SILVER LAKE, LOS FELIZ, ATWATER AND
NORTH LOS ANGELES NEAR THE HOLLYWOOD BEVERLY HILLS AREA

IF YOU NEED CHIMNEY CLEANING, CHIMNEY REPAIR, FIREPLACE REPAIR, CHIMNEY INSPECTION OR FIREPLACE
INSPECTION PLEASE GIVE US A CALL.  
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