[Hanne Nijs]

Red mite not only affect the hens, but can also cause issues to humans. Most frequently, these issues are limited to irritation when walking through or working in the hen house when infestation is higher. People might then experience some irritation or a rash in case they come into contact with red mites.
However, it is known that red mite itself can also serve as a reservoir to bacteria such as Salmonella, Pasteurella and Borrelia (which causes Lyme disease). These can cause serious illness in humans, thus red mite control is important with regard to animal as well as human health.