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Bedbug Infestation at the Office?

By On · Add Comment · In bedbugs, German shepherds, infestations, pest control centers

When it comes to bedbugs, “I gave at the office,” has a lot more meaning. That’s because recent reports tell of the little blood-suckers invading our workplaces. Yikes! Call in the German shepherds!

German shepherds?! Achtung baby…that’s precisely what they’re using in Tennessee: bedbug-sniffing German shepherds. Their findings? A 2011 a survey of U.S. pest control centers found that 38% had responded to infestations at office buildings–up from 17% the year before. Ewwww…. And treatments at schools and day-care centers rose to 36% from 10%, with visits to hospitals jumping from 12% of their jobs to almost one-third. Please get this: Hospitals are now some of pest control centers’ best clients.

For those that don’t know, bedbugs are fairly benign blood suckers–that is, they bite people, leaving welts itching and swelling. But they do not carry disease like some other insects. Saying that, they are more than just a little annoying as they can do a number on the poor victim.

In Tennessee, where it was uncertain as to what was causing mince-meat out of office workers, the special-unit canines, trained to sniff out bedbugs, were brought in and the verdict was conclusive: Bona fide Yecccccchhhh!

So here’s the take home as far as I’m concerned: You can get bitten by bedbugs at home. You can get bitten by bedbugs at the office. Your kid can get bitten by bedbugs at school. And even your local hospital ain’t safe. So if you wake up looking like you’ve got the chicken pox, and you’ve already had them: call the exterminator. Or try one of these natural remedies. Remember not to try doing the exterminating on your own, or you might poison yourself and your family–not worth it.

And if you need a bedbug-sniffing German shepherd to confirm your suspicions…well by golly git one. Oh…and just know that bedbugs love sucking on animals too, so hopefully Schultz doesn’t bring any into the house nestled in his coat. Well, that’s all–itch away.

Bedbug Battle Best Left to Professionals

By On · Add Comment · In accidental poisonings, bedbugs, boric acid, Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, exterminator, illnesses, indoor insecticide, malathion, National Park Service, pyrethroids, toxic chemicals

C’mon folks–let’s not go nuts.  You’ve got a bedbug problem–hire an exterminator; don’t try to do it on your own.  Duh!  A recent government report has disclosed that scores of Americans have fallen ill by playing bug executioner, and they are endangering family members in the process, including their children.

The report by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention showed that 80 illnesses and one death were linked to indoor insecticide use over the last three years.  Most of the cases were in New York, where bedbug infestations have been highly publicized due to a recent revival.  However, the CDC has collected data from twelve states, where seven reported accidental poisonings from insecticides used against the microscopic blood-suckers.

About 90% of the cases were linked to pyrethroids or pyrethrins, insecticides commonly used against bedbugs. Such products are not a health risk to most people but should still be applied by a trained exterminator, said Dr. Susi Vassallo, an emergency medicine doctor who works at New York City’s Bellevue Hospital Center and occasionally treats patients who report bedbug problems.

Although bedbugs pose no risk to people, some are getting hysterical over bugs feeding on them while they sleep, and are resorting to drastic measures.  A 65-year-old woman from Rocky Mount, N.C., with a history of heart trouble and other ailments, died after one such response.  She and her husband used nine cans of insecticide fogger one day, then the same amount two days later, without opening doors and windows to air out their home afterward.  She also covered her body and hair with another bedbug product, and covered her hair with a plastic shower cap.

Unsuspecting people have also been getting ill.  Take, for instance, two carpet cleaners who had not been told that an apartment they worked in had recently been treated with pesticides. Two others were emergency medical technicians who responded to a scene and were exposed to a white powder believed to be a pesticide.  Duh, people!

In some cases, a more dangerous and inappropriate product was used as the insecticide.  In 2010 in Ohio, a non-certified exterminator used malathion to rid an apartment of bedbugs, even though the chemical is never supposed to be used indoors. A couple and their 6-year-old child got sick.

Okay here goes: First off, use an exterminator.  Doing it yourself when it comes to toxic chemicals is not a good idea.  Would you do your own electrical wiring?  Forget I asked.  And if you do decide to be the bug executioner, can you at least try reading the labels on your products?  Duh?  Malathion?  Fer cryin’ out loud!  And could you please have the decency to tell your guests, workers, landlord or parents of your kids’ friends that you’ve just sprayed toxic chemicals in your home?  Can they have a choice…please?

I wouldn’t like bedbugs, either–but I’m not going to endanger my family over a freakout.  If you can’t drop the coin for professional help, then maybe follow some guidelines, like these set forth by the National Park Service: You’ve got to fill cracks and crevices with caulk in ceilings, walls and corners.  And boric acid works well, although it’s toxic to humans and animals, too.  And clean your house, dagnamit!  I know nobody wants to accept this part of the equation, but it’s not a judgment…just a fact.  Be smart about fighting bedbugs–that’s all.

New York Has Bed Bugs!

By On · Add Comment · In bedbugs, bites, DDT, epidemic, infestation, New York City

Ah New York–first in business, first in fashion and now first in…BEDBUGS!  Zoinks!  That’s right, bedbugs are taking a bite out of the Big Apple and all it’s inhabitants.  Blood sucking, creepy, crawling bedbugs…yeccch!

According to New York City officials, one out of every fifteen new Yorkers is getting chowed on by these nasty critters.  Anybody else itchy right now?  Despite their not being germ-carrying illness-spreaders, they do cause mental anguish in the people whose homes they have infested.  Some infestations have been so bad that more than a few apartment dwellers have had to throw out their belongings and start anew.  I swear I’m itching as I write this.  

I reported on the current national bed bug infestation last year.  It was one of my biggest hitting posts.  One well-known exterminator contacted me for links showing just how bad this bedbug epidemic has gotten.  As I reported in last year’s post, this is the biggest resurgence of bedbugs since World War II.

In New York City, bedbugs have been found in theaters, clothing stores, office buildings, housing projects and posh apartments.  And of course, they like to live in beds–in the cracks and crevices of mattresses.

Bedbug bites are often characterized by three raised, welt-like bumps in a row, which are indistinguishable from mosquito bites. They can be very itchy and hyper-irritating.  Most victims never actually see the bedbugs.  What they do see are the bites, blood on bedsheets and their waste, which looks like black pepper. They are known for being extremely difficult to eradicate and can go a year without feeding. 

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration submitted a community health survey to city inhabitants and nearly 6%, or 400,000 respondents, said they have battled bedbugs over the last year.  In 2004, residents filed 511 complaints, while in 2009 they filed 11,000.  Why the resurgence?  Experts believe that increased global travel and decreased use of some pesticides like DDT might be to blame, but they do admit that nobody is really certain.

“This is happening globally, and I don’t think anybody has figured out exactly why,” said Daniel Kass, the city’s deputy commissioner for environmental health. “So what we’re left with is managing them and keeping them from spreading. They’re going to be with us for some time.”

Oh, poor New Yorkers.  Although the resurgence of bedbugs is worldwide, New York does everything in a  big way.  Not exactly what they want to be known for.  My only advice, if you might be traveling to NYC, or anywhere for that matter, check your lodging’s bedbug status.  Just so you know…bedbugs love to travel too.

Bed Bug Resurgence

By On · Add Comment · In bedbugs, bites, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), itching, mosquito bites
“Good night. Don’t let the bedbugs bite,” never rang more true. There’s a resurgence of bedbugs in the U.S., and many people are getting eaten alive without even knowing what’s hit them. Warning: This post is not for the squeamish.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we are in the midst of the biggest bedbug infestation in the U.S. since World War II. The small, flat, oval, and reddish brown insect is infesting hospitals, hotel rooms, college dormitories, and now peoples’ homes. They live in the crevices and folds of mattresses, sofas and sheets. Then, most often before dawn, they emerge to feed on human blood. The EPA is holding their first ever bedbug summit on Tuesday.

Bedbugs are not microscopic–that is, they can be seen with the naked eye. They are , however, small–about 4-5 mm in length. They feed on warm blood, so humans are a favorite meal; but bedbugs will bite pets too in a pinch. This makes it especially hard to control residential infestations.

Since bedbugs neither jump nor fly, they must climb up beds to reach their prey. They sense heat, so a common method of attack is for the insect to climb up the bedroom walls to the ceiling. As they make their way across the ceiling, they’ll feel for heat. Once they feel body heat rising upward, they drop; and the party begins.

Bedbug bites are often characterized by three raised, welt-like bumps in a row. These bumps are indistinguishable from mosquito bites. They can be very itchy, and this hyper-irritating itch is usually the first sign that bedbugs are present. The diagnosis can be made by the three bumps, which are referred to as, “breakfast, lunch and dinner.” Because bedbugs are most active right before dawn, their feeding is rarely felt by the meal-host. Bedbugs feast and go back into hiding, where they come out every five days for more food. They can, however, stay dormant (without food) for up to eighteen months. Grossed out, yet?

The first step in fixing the problem is diagnosing whether an infestation is present. Infestations usually result from the transmission from travelers, students, and even outdoor pets. The next step is detection (usually done by pest control companies), then quarantine (cleaning and keeping clean) and treatment. Treatment can be through systemic (medication) or topical (hydrocortisone) corticosteroids. Applying hot water to the bites is a home remedy that is said to produce great results; mind you, the water must be hot enough to neutralize the poison left by the bedbugs, so it should be somewhat uncomfortable when applied, but not too hot to cause scalding.

OK, we’ll I’m creeped out by this news; especially since my family and I travel enough to increase our chances of infestation. If you are itching uncontrollably, but can find no source of irritant–no mosquitoes, no change of soap or laundry detergent, not eating anything different–then think bedbugs. Look for bites and if you find three in a row, you better figure you’ve become breakfast, lunch and dinner. Call the pest control and get your placed cleaned. Yeccchhh…I’m grossed out too.

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