Topeka VA continues efforts to eradicate bed bugs – WIBW

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Topeka's veterans' hospital ensures people it is a sanitary environment, even as it continues taking steps to treat and monitor ongoing issues with bed bugs.

Officials with the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System updated the situation for 13 NEWS after a viewer contacted the television newsroom, concerned bed bugs remained in the VA's Building 4, also known as 41B.

VA spokesperson Joseph Burks confirmed staff and patients from the psychiatric recovery and wellness program on the building's first floor were relocated earlier this week so crews could do a heat treatment.

"Heat treatment, which does cost more than a chemical treatment, was the choice to eradicate the bed bugs on 41B and that action was completed," Burks said. "Heat penetrates into small crevices that cannot be inspected."

Burks said chemical treatments also were utilized in some areas.

"Since the completion of this entire eradication process, our environmental management office, along with the exterminating company, Smithereens, out of Kansas City, Missouri, have thoroughly inspected the entire building and have found no sighting of additional bed bugs," he said.

However, since patients and staff are already temporarily relocated, Burks said the VA decided to go ahead with needed remodeling projects. They expect the unit will be operational and patients and staff returned by the end of March.

The viewer who contacted 13 NEWS also expressed concerns employees are being made to treat their homes for bed bugs at their own expense.

Burks said no one in executive leadership has issued any such instructions.

"If an employee is required to clean their home based on a work related incident, there are procedures they may follow," Burks said. "We are currently seeking guidance from our legal team on how to address this issue."

Complete statement from Joseph Burks, VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System Public Affairs Officer:

We at VA Eastern Kansas take patient and employee safety and a healthy healing environment for our veterans very seriously. For the safety of all, only staff and patients from the psychiatric recovery and wellness program (PRWP) were moved in preparation for treatment that took place early this week. This unit is located on the first floor of bldg. 4 (41B) and no other staff or patients from the building were relocated. Heat treatment, which does cost more than a chemical treatment, was the choice to eradicate the bed bugs on 41B and that action was completed. Heat penetrates into small crevices that cannot be inspected. Lethal temperatures for bed bugs range from 117 degrees Fahrenheit to 122 F. In addition to heat were the bugs were spotted, chemical treatment was utilized in other areas of building 4. Our facility leadership ensures treatment options are in accordance with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. Since the completion of this entire eradication process, our environmental management office, along with the exterminating company, Smithereens, out of Kansas City, Missouri, have thoroughly inspected the entire building and have found no sighting of additional bed bugs. With patients and staff from 41B being temporarily relocated to another unit in building 2, we took advantage of this temporary move and have initiated a few much needed remodeling projects. Though I cannot provide an exact date, we expect the unit to be operational with patients and staff back in place before the end of March.

If an employee is required to clean their home based on a work related incident, there are procedures they may follow. No one in an executive leadership role has instructed any employee to clean their home at their own expense. We are currently seeking guidance from our legal team on how to address this issue.

Based on several on-line search results and industry research it has been reported that nearly all pest professionals at some time or another have treated bed bugs and that one out of five Americans has had a bed bug infestation in their home or knows someone who has encountered bed bugs at home or in a hotel. The top three places where pest professionals report finding bed bugs are apartments/condominiums, single-family homes, and hotels/motels. Bed bugs can be found in other settings such as nursing homes, college dorms, offices, schools and daycare centers, hospitals, public transportation and others. An individual most often transports bed bugs from one of these locations to another.

Despite the availability of information, most Americans still have misconceptions about bed bugs. Many believe that bed bugs transmit disease. However, research conducted to date has shown that bed bugs do not transmit disease to their human victims, although some people may experience itchy, red welts. Many believe bed bugs are more common among lower income households and believe bed bugs are attracted to dirty homes. Bed bugs do not discriminate in regard to household income and are found in both sanitary and unsanitary conditions. Our hospital is a sanitary environment and we act on any calls whether it be suspected or confirmed.

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Topeka VA continues efforts to eradicate bed bugs - WIBW