"Where are these bed bugs coming from?" That's the number one question I get from my customers and friends. Many pest control professionals and researchers have different theories as to why we are dealing with this pesky pest after they have been gone for so long.
What do you think?
In a article on Reuters, researchers from the Public Library of Science reported, "The resurgence of bed bugs poses an urgent situation as infestations are rampant globally, nationally, and locally." Many states, such as New York, have had local government agencies in a craze, tending to the public outcry on why so many are dealing with this issue. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Housing Preservation and Development Agency and many other organizations worked together to establish the BedBug Advisory Board.
With the attention of politicians and entomologists worldwide we could assume, we would be on our way to being bed bug free. The truth is that we're no closer to finding a way to get rid of bed bugs than we are to clearing the city of roaches and rats. The Reuters article goes on to report, "During the past decade or so, the resurgence of C. lectularius has been recorded across the globe, including North America, Europe, Australia, and Eastern Asia, with an estimated 100 to 500 percent annual increase in bed bug populations."
So, how do you protect yourself while waiting for the experts to effectively rid our cities of bed bugs?
The key to combating this epidemic is to stay educated. Read up on preventive measures that you can take to limit your exposure. If you think you might have been exposed, or might even have bed bugs in your home, get a certified canine inspection. The earlier you detect a bed bug infestation, the less it will cost you. Early detection will also prevent you from spreading it to your workplace, automobiles, and friends' homes.
Quick tips to keep in mind:
- Staying in a hotel? Keep your clothing in your luggage.
- Inspect all packages that come to your home.
- Purchase mattress, box-spring and pillowcase encasements
- Have children? Inspect their backpacks and clothing when they come home from school.
- Carry a preventive spray like Pronto Plus with you at all times.
Education is the key to staying bed bug free.
For now, good luck and don't let the bed bugs bite!
Michael Colongione is a spokesperson for Pronto Plus, manufactured by Insight Pharmaceuticals. The advice and opinions he expresses in this article are his own.