Bedbug infestations on the rise

[Hum]

Bedbugs have returned to Wisconsin, as public health officials say they?ve seen a huge increase in the number of residents complaining about the pests in recent years.

Dan Koralewski, a community health environmentalist in West Allis, said he's noticed a large increase in bedbug reports in the last two years, sometimes as many as three calls per week.

Wauwatosa, Greenfield and Milwaukee are seeing similar problems, Koralewski said.

The Milwaukee Health Department regularly receives calls from residents who discover evidence of bedbugs in their homes, according to Paul Biedrzycki, director of disease control and environmental health for the Milwaukee Health Department. The agency provides advice and referrals, but does not handle landlord enforcement or bedbug eradication, he said, adding that that?s the job of the city's Department of Neighborhood Services.

"We're not immune to the bedbug epidemic that has been ongoing for the past five to 10 years in the U.S. and globally," said Paul Biedrzycki, director of disease control and environmental health for the Milwaukee Health Department. "New York, Los Angeles and Chicago have all had problems with bedbugs for a while.

 

Bedbugs ? reddish-brown, wingless insects that are about a quarter-inch long when mature ? generally bite at night and leave flat, red welts primarily on the face, neck, arms and hands. Bites may be evident immediately or may take several days to become welts.

"They're vampiric in nature because they come out at night and suck your blood," Biedrzycki said. "They're horrid little creatures no one wants to encounter in their bedroom, especially at night."

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[Growled Member]

I wonder why they are on the increase? What causes them?

[exotoxic]

I wonder why they are on the increase?

 

Travel

[compl3x]

Travel

 

Yeah. I remember seeing a report about people staying in hotels/motels where, shall we say the cleanliness and maintenance of the rooms left a lot to be desired. The bed bugs catch a ride aboard peoples' luggage and then spread to their home.

 

Some of the more extreme infestations can leave horrifying welts all over people.

[Growled Member]

Yeah. I remember seeing a report about people staying in hotels/motels where, shall we say the cleanliness and maintenance of the rooms left a lot to be desired. The bed bugs catch a ride aboard peoples' luggage and then spread to their home.

 

Some of the more extreme infestations can leave horrifying welts all over people.

Ah. I guess that's why I have never experienced them. I refuse to stay in a shoddy hotel.

[gadean]

Travel

Yes, which is why travelers need wash their belongings immediately upon their return.  Vacuum whatever can't be washed and keep your suitcase stored in a knotted garbage bag.  It may seem like a lot of work but getting rid of bedbugs in your home can be costly.  If you're returning late, just slip your suitcase in a garbage bag and leave it for the morning.  Bed bugs, like cockroach eggs, will attach themselves to whatever they can find.  (I travel a lot)

[gadean]

Ah. I guess that's why I have never experienced them. I refuse to stay in a shoddy hotel.

They exist in the nicest hotels, too.  In fact, some of the nicer hotels have sofas and unlike bed linens, these are rarely if ever cleaned.  Hotels are just nasty.  While staying in a high-end Hilton I watched room service wipe down the entire room with a wet rag - toilet seat, shower walls, you name it.  After washing out the coffee pot in the sink - you bet - she wiped the carafe down and continued on her business.  It was if she had done it a thousand times before because... well, she probably had.

[DavidM]

Ah. I guess that's why I have never experienced them. I refuse to stay in a shoddy hotel.

 

It's not just shoddy hotels, they have invaded some of the nicest hotels in NY and California. When the wife went to a convention in Las Vegas last year, I made her put her suitcase in the the tub and do an inspection of the room before doing anything.

 

I saw a bedbug inspector doing a youtube video about how to check for them, they are FAR easier to avoid than to remove from your house, they can cost thousands of dollars to get rid of, once they are in your home

[DavidM]

They exist in the nicest hotels, too.  In fact, some of the nicer hotels have sofas and unlike bed linens, these are rarely if ever cleaned.  Hotels are just nasty.  While staying in a high-end Hilton I watched room service wipe down the entire room with a wet rag - toilet seat, shower walls, you name it.  After washing out the coffee pot in the sink - you bet - she wiped the carafe down and continued on her business.  It was if she had done it a thousand times before because... well, she probably had.

 

Beat me to it, and I wanted to add, I rented a room a few years back at a very pricey hotel in Indianapolis and found a note in the bed saying "if you found this the sheets weren't changed" in TWO different rooms before leaving. It could have been a prank from some of the staff, but their manager was NOT laughing as he refunded me both rooms and offered to pay for a room at sister hotel for the weekend. I had already made plans to stay with family in the area since it was late, but they did honor their word and I spent the compt weekend at another date at another hotel.

[Shiranui]

Showing my age here, but:

[BoDEAN]

I wonder why they are on the increase? What causes them?

 

All over the place in chicago.  Word is you can catch them in Taxi cabs too.

[neo1911]

Bedbugs along with cockroaches are the only insects that can survive a nuclear attack. They are that resistant.

[Hum]

We must create an army of bed bug eating nanobots !