Battle to take bite out of bed bug problem

BED bugs are a major problem in parts of Glasgow, environmental health bosses have warned.

Environmental health teams have been drafted in to Govanhill where Glasgow City Council offers a free service to eradicate the pests.

One student, who lived there, said his room was over-run with the parasites.

He eventually moved house and had to stay with friends for weeks before finding a new place to live.

The 24-year-old, who asked not to be named, had been bitten many times.

He said: "I had to leave my sofa behind because it was infested, but I couldn't stay there any more.

"When I saw the bugs it was a horrible confirm-ation. Thinking about it still makes my skin crawl."

Councillor Soryia Sidd-ique, whose ward covers affected areas, said: "Hav-ing been contacted by residents regarding infest-ation, concerns were raised and NHS Environmental Health have now committed to an additional team of officers in the area.

"I have requested a structured long-term partnership approach to the challenge including preven-tion, training, liasion with GPs and education, aiming to implement a comprehen-sive block by block treatment for infestations."

The blood sucking parasites were almost extinct, but since the turn of the century infestations have risen at an alarming rate of 25% a year.

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Battle to take bite out of bed bug problem