I received a notice today that the housing project where I live is experiencing an infestation of bed bugs. So far I've only experienced silverfish, although the neighbors soft furnishings are now in a heap in the courtyard awaiting removal.
With the drugs that we take I understand the drill of not eating unpasteurized products, nothing under-cooked, nothing risky etc. Does anyone have any advice about being eaten by bugs? Whether we are at higher risk of insect related illnesses?
Thanks,
Laura
Don't know much about bed bugs other than my mother accidentally set my new mattress on fire trying to get rid of them when I was six because my sister brought some home from Girls Scout Camp. I got them from a cruise ship in the Med a few years back. I've not heard of any particular disease from them.
Actually the reason I responded is its been a question of mine for long time what you do in real life and what the ED stands for after your name. given the title of the thread it got me wondering. Doctorate English Lit??????
Redecorate anyway, there should be sale on pink stuff given the Royal baby bust. Laura Ellen gives a "frilly" vision.
I do a fair amount of work for the National Lab's just south of us. They specialize in tick diseases (among other things) it took a LONG TIME for my sisters PsA to get sorted out they were sure it was Rock Mountain Spotted fever that she got while working Part time for the labs while in Nursing school. She did a lot of injections during the initial vaccine studies.
There a world-wide epidemic of b.b. infestations occurring right now. These little buggars are incredibly athletic and can go w/out a blood meal for months.
If you received a notification it likely means there's a real problem because landlords and property management companies, along with housing authorities, rarely chose to inform tenants w/out being told they must do so by local officials.
In your shoes, I would request a complete inspection of my unit by a professional PCO and I would take preventative measures such as installing scientifically tested bed bug mattress and box spring encasements and researching other products such a climbups, food grade diatomaceous earth fossil powder, etc. (I do not have any connection to any of the companies that produce thesae products -- there are many which do).
Only 7 or 10 people react to bed bug bites. Bed bugs normally come out to feed in the wee hours of the AM and are attracted to CO2. Similarly to mosquitoes, one cannot feel the bites when they occur, but the tell-tale red welts (up to the size of a quarter and usually in clusters of 3-4 on the abdomen, neck and face and 1-2 on the arms, legs and feet) show up within hours.
We survived a bed bug infestation in our building. A tenant had let it go unreport for, what is estimated to be, a full year. It was very upsetting to say the least -- and extremely emotionally and physically trying and financially costly. We have a large place and found it early.
The preparation process before the extermination is tedious and physcially laborious.
We ended up having to pack every single item we owned into plastic bags,, half-full and spun, then tied w/a twist tie. You can imagine how difficult this process was for me. It took 7 full days of work to complete it and LOTS of tylenol and praying.
I would not wish a bed bug infestation on anyone. As a matter of fact, while I haven't ever had lice or fleas of any other vermin; I would take them over the bed bugs any day.
Bed bugs care not if you are rich or poor, young or old, sick or well -- they are opportunistic and "hijack" on purses, luggage, library books, movie theater seats, etc.
The end result for us was a cost of over $3,000.00 to deal with the problem and take preventative precautions for the future. We have, without a doubt, been "schooled" on bed bugs.
There are loads of misconceptions out there about how to deal with and prevent bed bugs. One of the biggest misconceptions is that if you do not see them, you do not have them. Another is that they only like beds and unholstered furniture. Both untrue.
As mentioned, to date there are no medical reports that point to bed bugs can transmit disease -- this is, at least, somewhat comforting.
I would suggest you google 'bedbugger.com' and also look at youtube..com for 'bed bug tv' to learn more.
All the best of luck to you w/this!
**upholstered furniture**, not unholstered furniture. LOL!
Thanks and I accept your sympathies :)
It really was just a terrible learning experience.
I would caution you not to freak out or over react. The pest control company my landlord hired had a small team of trained bed bug experts on staff who solely inspect and treat for this particular insect.
Here is what I was told.
Unless I see:
1) Live or dead bed bugs
2) Bed bug castings (shed skins)
3) Bed bug fecal staining (I know, ewwww, right? Fecal stain look like little, black unraised dots -- like a felt tip marker would produce).
then I don't have bed bugs. Sadly, I caught one and was able to zip lock it in a bag. Fortunately, I took it over the the company and they checked it out w/a microscope and confirmed it was a bed bug. There are one or two other house insects that resemble bed bugs, so it is good to be sure.
One of the most common places to find live/dead/castings or stains is the underside of the box spring of a mattress beneath and inside the dust cloth cover. Another is in the folds of the edge of the bed mattress. One more is in the crevices of a favorite upholstered couch or chair. Basically where you are they are.
Something else I learned: centipedes love a good bed bug meal. So if you see a sudden outbreak or increase of centipedes in your apt., condo or house; you might have a problem w/the little vampires that are bed bugs.
It's super easy to get worked up about this. This reiterated the lesson the world continues to teach me over and over again. . .i am not in charge.
Keep calm and carry on :)
