Daily Archives: November 23, 2013

What was once a minor annoyance is quickly turning into a nationwide problem. Bed bugs are back in the USA, and theyre becoming more difficult to eradicate every day. Ohio appears to be a source for the bugs, with numerous hotels and private residences within the state suffering from outbreaks, repeated infestations, and the long-term stigma of being associated with the nasty pests. The bugs were largely eradicated in the United States following World War II, with most towns and cities in Ohio reporting little more than ten infestations annually. But after high-power sprays were outlawed earlier this century, the bugs have started coming back in massive numbers. Outbreaks in cities such as New York and San Francisco are becoming commonplace, as are health scares.

Thankfully, the bugs arent a major health risk, nor are they a particularly painful experience. That said, they are an incredible annoyance and one of the most excruciatingly difficult pests to remove from your home. A single stay in an infested bed is enough to transfer the bugs to your hair, to your suitcase, and eventually into your own bedsheets, mattress, and comforter. Not only that the bugs multiply and spread once they find a home. Most residents with experience of infestations can speak of their scale once the bed bugs have arrived in a home, they can spread to different rooms, floors, and areas rapidly. Its not uncommon to find bed bugs throughout a home in electrical sockets, desks and other wooden furniture, and even in curtains and lampshades.

Ohio is, quite unfortunately, one of the hardest hit states in the nation. Currently, the USs bed bug infestation leader is New York City, where the bugs have rapidly multiplied and taken residence in some of the citys most prestigious and expensive addresses. Other outbreak zones include the city of San Francisco, where this infestation was spotted in a major inner city hotel chain. Weve prepared this guide to alert Ohio residents of the dangers presented by bed bugs, as well as the scale of their infestations. Included is information on removing the parasites from your home, documentation of major outbreaks, and specific information on outbreak zones in your city.

How are bed bugs spreading through Ohio?

Ohios relatively central position has made the state a popular location for travelers, particularly those traveling by road from one side of the country to another. This long-distance driver demand has also made the state a center for short-term accommodation, particularly motor hotels that can thrive on single-night visitors and traveling guests. Pest control experts have pointed to hotels as a leading source of bed bugs, claiming that the bugs can easily spread from guests luggage. International visitors are a major source of the insects, with bed bugs clinging onto their luggage in East Asia and Eastern Europe, and quickly traveling across the Atlantic to our shores.

Most cases are inconsequential, although some end up in rapid outbreaks. This viral spread has put two industries in bed bug lockdown mode, the travel industry and the hotel and short-term accommodation industry. The bugs typically spread from peoples luggage and clothing onto hotel bedsheets, where they take up residence in mattresses and pillow contents. One hotel can host millions of the bugs, with eggs hatching rapidly and populations soon multiplying. Another major source of the bugs is Ohios advanced transportation network.

Before international visitors can reach hotels, many spend their journeys aboard state buses, regional trains, or railway services within cities. With infested bags and equally bug-ridden clothes, its a simple journey for the bugs to crawl onto seating surfaces, automobile structure, and even overhead storage bins. Finally, imported products can occasionally bring the bugs into the USA. Shipments of imported clothes and other fabric-based items have been found to contain the bugs, leading to the closure of several prestigious fashion retail outlets and the fumigation of many others. The majority of goods housing the bugs are imported from Europe and Asia, where the bugs are a minor annoyance.

Should transportation services and hotels be avoided?

No. While hotels, buses, and trains are major sources of the bugs, avoiding them entirely is unlikely to give you any protective advantage. Ohios transit systems are regarded as free of the pests, with a small amount of isolated cases appearing each year. Such cases are typically acted on rapidly using commercial spray teams and professional exterminators. However, problem cases do slip through the cracks. Bed bugs have been found in several hotels in the state, including high-end chains and luxury boutiques. Unlike ticks and roaches, the bugs arent attracted to dirty rooms or messy settings, theyre equally at home in a luxury hotel room as they are in a low-end hostel. Cleanliness, paradoxically, may even help the bugs reach the mattress. That said, there are numerous ways to avoid the bugs when staying in a hotel room or riding on the states extensive public transportation system. Weve detailed several in the following page sections, including some simple tips that can be applied to any hotel room or temporary accommodation area.

Visit link:
Bed Bugs Ohio - Bed Bug.org