Category Archives: Bed Bugs Ohio

CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) -

State Representative Dale Mallory (D)is worried that the bedbug problem in Cincinnati may lead to sour notes during the World Choir Games, asthousands ofvisitors willheadto the tri-state.

"The Ohio General Assembly recently passed a resolution to honor July as World Choir Games Month, and with that honor comes a responsibility to protect the residents of Cincinnati. My fear is that Cincinnati may not be remembered for hosting the best World Choir Games ever." said Rep. Mallory. "I am bringing the Joint Bed Bugs Task Force together to develop a concrete plan for Cincinnati and Hamilton County to mitigate bed bug infestations before the World Choir Games start."

Rep. Mallorysays he hopes toconvene the Task Force prior to the games, and says hewants to engage various stakeholders and interested parties in the month of June. The result of the Task Force meeting will be the blueprint and roadmap to lessening greater infestations for Cincinnati's guests during the World Choir Games, and will poise the area to put forth deliberate efforts beyond the month of July.

Rep. Mallory hopes to convene the Joint Bed Bugs Task Force within the next week and a half.

Copyright 2012 WXIX. All rights reserved.

Read the original post:
Local lawmaker worried about bedbugs prior to World Choir Games

A recent report by the Cincinnati Health Department indicates that the number of bed bug cases is on the decline.However, State Representative Dale Mallory says he's skeptical.

"I think that the bed bug calls have declined, from what I've seen with the stigma a lot of people are afraid to report bed bug incidents," he said.

Ohio State University entomologist Dr. Susan Jones says the bed bug problem is alarming. "If you have one in five people reporting bed bugs, a 20% infestation rate, that's a serious, serious problem."

The problem was supposed to have been addressed by a bed bug task force, but Mallory says the panel seems to have lost its way.

"After about three months, from what I understand, the city abandoned that plan. The city health department abandoned that plan. So as people called City Hall they were told well we really don't deal with bed bugs, but we'll send you a brochure," he said.

Mallory says he'd like to see the infestation problem eliminated by the time Cincinnati hosts the World Choir Games in June.

University of Cincinnati biology professor Dr. George Uetz says bed bugs had nearly been eliminated back in the 50's, but pesticides used back in those days are now illegal.

Xavier University biology professor Dr. Annie Ray says the mild winter hasn't affected other types of insects.

"Things that we call peri-domestic pests like cockroaches...things that live in your house like silverfish...not really insect, but arachnids and some of those house centipedes....they're really not going to be affected by the weather," she said.

Dr. Uetz says "If it continues to be on and off wet with warm weather....I think we'll see swarming mosquitoes and swarming flies."

Read the original:
Bed bugs still a problem around the area

CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) -

Data released from the Greater Cincinnati Survey conducted by the University of Cincinnati's Institute for Policy Research demonstrates that Cincinnati residents experiencing problems with bed bugs have declined from 22 percent in 2009 to 18 percent in 2010*. Cincinnati Health Department officials point to this data as an indication that the City's aggressive outreach and education efforts are working.

These results are an encouraging sign that knowledge has been gained and applied about how to limit the spread of the pesky insects.

Beginning in 2008, the Cincinnati Health Department led an effort to assemble a consortium of organizations and experts from the City, County and State of Ohio to develop one of the first comprehensive Bed Bug Strategic Plans in the nation. Since that time many of the recommendations have been put into practice.

1) Education. Often individuals have no idea how bed bugs spread, what should be done to limit transmission, or the best ways to eradicate them. A series of brochures, fliers, videos, public service announcements and other materials have been developed and distributed to the community.

2) Outreach. The Health Department has met with and worked with schools, businesses, "big box retailers", pest control companies, local, state and federal government agencies and community groups to develop bed bug control policies and attend events to teach effective bed bud control and eradication measures.

3) Surveillance. The Cincinnati Health Department is one of the first health jurisdictions in the nation to collect hard data which illustrates the scope of bed bugs in the City. In addition the health department licenses City hotels and motels, which allows for regular inspections and a quick response to bed bug complaints.

4) Advocacy. The Health Department has worked with community partners and governments to apply for grants and lobby the EPA and other governmental entities for assistance with bed bug remediation.

Going forward it is critically important that the City continue to work in partnership with the general community, business community, and county, state and federal agencies to combat bed bugs.

"We know that we can make a difference if we work together to provide surveillance, resources and deliver accurate public messages. The City will continue to be aggressive in our response to this very difficult problem and welcome partnership and resources from other levels of government, such as the State of Ohio to assist us." Said Dr. Camille Jones Cincinnati Assistant Health Commissioner.

Continued here:
Bed Bug cases are declining in Cincinnati

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Bedbugs have become so prevalent in Cleveland that the city now keeps two ambulances in reserve just to replace others as they become infested with the blood-sucking insects.

The city's Emergency Medical Service also has started issuing protective gowns, booties and hair nets to ambulance crews entering bedbug hotspots tracked by dispatchers on a computer database. The list, which changes with the bug population, stood at 52 addresses Friday.

"We've taken a very aggressive approach," said Nicole Carlton, acting EMS commissioner. "We always tell our people to be very vigilant."

Bedbugs have made a nationwide resurgence, reaching Cincinnati several years ago and then migrating up Interstate 71. Fire stations in Cincinnati and Columbus have battled infestations.

The Cleveland Department of Public Health recorded 497 bedbug complaints last year, up from 296 the year before. The Cuyahoga County Board of Health, which covers areas other than Cleveland and Shaker Heights, handled 161 cases in 2011, more than four times the volume two years earlier.

The speck-size, burrowing insects pose no serious health threats, but their bites are painful. Infestations also are difficult to find and eradicate.

In November, Cleveland officials brought a bedbug-sniffing Jack Russell terrier into an ambulance base. The dog, trained to detect the scent of human blood, found bedbugs in a chair. The same day, the terrier checked out ambulance service headquarters -- often used for community CPR and first-aid training -- but turned up nothing.

Police Chief Michael McGrath issueda memolast month advising officers to be on the lookout for bedbugs. He made recommendations for avoiding contact -- for example, don't sit in homes visited on the job -- and said uniforms thought to be infested should be sealed in plastic until washed and dried at high, bedbug-killing temperatures.

Jeff Follmer, president of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association, went one step farther this week after fielding complaints from union members.

Follmer bought two cases of a spray -- 24 bottles at $15 each -- that kills the bugs by means of dehydration. He then delivered the spray, an all-natural blend not subject to federal environment regulations, to stations.

More here:
Cleveland safety forces battling bedbugs

COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio - A family of six, including four children is displaced after their apartment in Colerain Township caught fire.

Crews responded to the apartment building in the 3500 block of Galbraith Road at about 9:30 Saturday evening.  When they arrived, heavy smoke and flames were seen shooting from the roof of the building.

Capt. Steven Conn with the Colerain Township Fire department says a common home remedy used to treat bed bugs is to blame for the fire.

A resident at the apartment was using isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle to kill bed bugs.

Conn says that spraying alcohol makes a vapor that is extremely flammable and only needs a simple source to start a fire.

In Saturday's case, that source was a simple cigarette. Candles, furnaces or other heat sources can also ignite a fire.

Everyone made it out of the home safely and the family is now receiving assistance from the Red Cross.

Springfield Township and Green Township fire departments also responded for mutual aid.

The fire has been estimated to have caused $30,000 in damage.

Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Read more here:
FD: Bed bug home remedy caused fire