Family Reports Bedbugs at Value Place Hotel and is kicked out!
KCTV5.com released a report that on Oct, 16, 2008 that a family was kicked out of their hotel room by management for reporting bed bugs! The hotel they pointed to is Value Place Hotel in Kansas City, MO (KC South – Grandview Triangle) 11301 Colorado Avenue Kansas City, MO 64137 (816) 761-4545
They stated that the management claims people like this bring in the bedbugs and kicking them out was the right thing to do. However, after researching this story, I found that comments were left on Trip Advisor reporting bedbugs back in September of 08.
A tricky tacit? Sure is, by kicking the family out, they put the family on the defensive and thereby reduce the chances Value Place Hotel will be sued. Amazing!
Story from KCTV5 can be found at: kctv5.com/print/17727509/detail.html
Kick the Bed Bugs Out of Your Bed!
We all know where bed bugs come from, we typically bring them home as unwanted souvenirs from vacations or take them with us after moving from an apartment complex. What we really need to know is how to get rid of them.
Lynn Little wrote an article “Kick the bed bugs out of your bed” discussing some of the tactics that you can to on your own to get rid of the little pests. Getting rid of bed bugs as soon as possible is crucial because after a bed bug is in place females can produce eggs that will hatch into blood-thirsty nymphs within a matter of days. An adult bed bug can live anywhere from 12 to 18 months.
The reason bed bugs are so hard to get rid of once they’ve been established in a building or home is because they hide during the daytime. They typically hide in cracks and crevices, in furniture like your bed or under rugs, behind pictures, artwork or loose wallpaper. According to Little the best thing to do to get rid of bed bugs is a three step integrated pest management (or IPM). This consists of sanitation and the application of the chemicals only to the areas needed.
One of the very most important things you can do is inspect your hotel room when traveling to ensure you don’t bring any bed bugs home with you, in other words prevention. But if by chance you miss them and do bring them home on accident be sure to inspect all clothing. Look for their fecal spots or actual bugs. When buying used furniture, especially mattresses double check everything. Try caulking cracks and crevices on the interior and exterior of your homes so the bugs can’t hide there.
The next step, sanitation, means frequent cleaning of your home. Vacuuming and cleaning your mattress and areas nearby, washing clothes in hot water and just generally cleaning and sanitizing your home. After the mattress is vacuumed or scrubbed, it can be enclosed in a zippered mattress cover. Any remaining bedbugs will be trapped inside the cover. Leave the cover in place for a year or more, since bed bugs can live a long time without feeding. Steam and hot water can also kill bed bugs. So after traveling and unpacking make sure to wash all your clothes in hot water to ensure that any bed bugs you might’ve brought home won’t survive.
The last step, chemicals on targeted areas, means residual insecticides are applied directly to the areas needed. For example any cracks or crevices where bed bugs may have been hiding. Feel free to repeat as needed, especially if more bed bugs are spotted. Make your home less hospitable for bedbugs and other pests by preventing entry and controlling their sources of food, water and places to hide.
If you have any more suggestions or tips on how to keep your home bed bug free please share them with us below!
Full story found here:
herald-mail.com/?cmd=displaystory&story_id=205042&format=html
Hotel Zaps the Bed Bugs
Imagine having to pay $63,000 because of thousands of bugs that are only a quarter of an inch long. You probably wouldn’t be too thrilled right? Well that’s exactly how the owners of Days Inn in Farmington, New Mexico felt.
Rez Chowdhury, the owner of infested Days Inn, says that they are going to replace everything from carpets to bedding. They are currently waiting on Ecolab to return the results of an investigation. The Ecolab employee, Rocky Jordan, claims that he’s seen much worse bed bug infestations but he defiantly found evidence of the little pests at the Days Inn. Jordan suggested they strip all the rooms where they found the bedbugs and rooms adjacent to those but it was Chowdhury’s idea to do the entire hotel and Jordan agrees that it’s a good idea.
Because there is no evidence of bed bugs on the ground floor they are starting with the second and third before returning to the ground floor to spray there also. They said the problem may have started about two years ago, also the time when national media first noted the resurgence of bedbugs in this country. Some blame international travel for the spread. But luckily bed bugs don’t spread any sort of diseases, they are just itchy and annoying.
Chowdhury apologized to each of the bite victims and also is removing the hotel manager, Amish Patel, due to his lack of response. Chowdhury is training a new manager and keeping busy with the renovation of the hotel. A quote from the article says,
“It’s worth it,” Chowdhury said. “When they remove the furniture and carpet, most of the problem is gone, but we want to be sure so we will treat each floor, come back and test in a week and do it again if we have to.”
We can only hope more managers of hotels would address a bed bug infestation in this manor. When traveling be on the look out for bed bugs and if you spot any don’t hesitate to inform the management about the situation. Questions or comments? Share them with us below.
Full story found here:
daily-times.com/news/ci_10722364
Bed Bug Problem Persistent in Section Eight Housing
Section Eight subsidized housing is also known as government funded low income housing. And at a particular section eight housing unit: Leadville’s Mt. Massive Manor there has been a persistent bed bug problem causing problems for residents as management continues to take care of the issue. The first infestation was discovered in July 2008 but was not fully taken care of to the likes of the residents at Mt. Massive Manor. The complex has 3 floors with 24 units total and only a few of those units are vacant. Bed bugs thrive on densely populated areas.
Orkin Inc. (a pest control company out of Leadville) sprayed a few units and hallways in late July after sightings of bed bugs and followed up on August 8. Right after the second inspecting the managers of the apartment building received more sightings of bed bugs, but in different units. The management had those units sprayed on August 13 and followed up on August 22.
Finally after inviting Lake County Health Department to inspect the building the management decided to spray the entire complex on October 7th. Mark Schulman, the managing director for the property management group Urban Inc. had to bring in a different pest control company due to scheduling conflicts with Orkin Inc. On October 9 the management of Urban Inc. and other agencies that were related to the issue were supposed to have a meeting to discuss the bed bug problem. The health department, Board of County Commissioners as well as management from Urban Inc. never showed up.
Dina Romero, a property manager in the Denver metro area has her grandmother living in Mt. Massive Manor who has been bitten by bed bugs are suffered severe reactions to the bites like dizziness and nausea. Even though many of the bites are gone, they are still scarring. After the incident Romero moved her grandmother out of the apartments and into a hotel room with herself in Leadville. Romero attended the meeting on October 9 and claims that, “The situation has not been rectified yet…[The management company and board of directors] have been waiting for someone else to tell them what to do, rather than find out themselves…”
Since then the County Commissioner Ken Olsen said that BOCC had recently met with the local health department and that the situation is being addressed. Olsen agrees that the people in the community have a right to be concerned. Other apartment complexes and hotels have had the same issues throughout Denver.
A few quotes from the article:
“We’re not excited about it, but we’re not trying to avoid this issue,” said Shulman. He confirmed that no residents have been forced to leave their units for the treatments and said, “We have not had anybody displaced.”
Romero pointed out that “some people have no other place to go…they are on fixed incomes, and many of them are seniors.”
Bed bugs are becoming more and more of a problem that needs to be taken care of. Have you had a similar experience? Share your story with us below!
Full story found here:
http://www.title=Bed%20bug%20problem%20being%20managed%20at%20Leadville’s%20Mt.%20Massive%20Manor
Bedbugs: A Growing Problem
Imagine going on a vacation or trip only to have memory of one thing: bed bugs. John Keenan wrote an article for the Omaha Newsstand called “Pest control companies report a growing problem with bedbugs.” Many hotels and motels are the very place where bed bug infestations begin and in Omaha the story is the same. While bed bugs aren’t common they certainly aren’t unheard of. But according to local pest control companies and an educator with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s extension office bed bugs are being more and more of a problem.
Gail Banach along with daughter Leslie and her Siberian husky were passing through Omaha and stayed the night on their way to Utah. After calling a few hotels in search for a vacant room she finally found one that had a two-diamond rating in the AAA guidebook so she figured it would be alright. A quote from the article states:
“When they awoke the next morning, Banach said, it was to a splatter of tiny bloodstains on the sheets from where they’d been bitten.”
Banach searched and realized that there were bed bugs in her hotel room. She collected evidence of the bed bugs to show the hotel clerk on duty who suggested Banach’s dog was to blame for the bugs. Banach said there was no way her dog was carrying bed bugs. Besides, if her dog was, wouldn’t she have discovered them in her own home? Banach proceeded to report the episode to the Douglas County Health Department. Inspectors found bed bugs in some of the rooms and destroyed the mattresses, because mattresses are often where bed bugs are usually found. Further inspections will be made as well as follow-ups.
Mike Patel, owner of the Relax Inn said that he had found one bug, but the problem had been dealt with. They also figured it was an isolated case as there was no evidence of a widespread infestation. Inspectors agreed that bed bugs can’t come from a dog, but rather suitcases, furniture, boxes or clothing. AAA told Banach it would refund the cost of her motel room. Patel also said he would give her a refund.
Because hotels and motels are the most common places that bed bugs are found it’s important to be informed on what to look for. Be sure to check out our FAQ and bed bug checklist before you travel to make sure you don’t take any unwanted guests home with you. You’ll also be sure to fully enjoy your vacation!
Full story found here:
gretnabreeze.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20162442&BRD=2712&PAG=461&dept_id=556239&rfi=6
Bedbugs Declared a Health Hazard
Are bed bugs really considered a health hazard? According to a Toronto municipal councillor, Howard Moscoe, they certainly should be. Moscoe wants the city to begin taking steps toward calling the growing problem of bed bugs a health hazard. The changes will be made under the provincial Health Act. According to pest control companies there has been a rise in bed bug infestations over the last year. According to the article on CBC News “one company told the Toronto board of health it was fumigating 450 residences a month.”
Bed bugs aren’t considered life threatening by any means, but the damages could be considered just as bad if not worse. The physical and psychological effects are reason enough to declare them a health hazard says Moscoe. Another advantage to having bed bugs considered a health hazard? Currently, under the Health Act you can’t force a neighboring resident to spray for bed bugs if he or she has them. But if they are considered a health hazard you will be able to. If you know anything about bed bugs you’ll know that they spread easily and multiply quickly so spraying the infected area as soon as possible is absolutely necessary.
Moscoe plans to address the issue to the health board at its next meeting. What do you think, should bed bugs be considered a health hazard? Share your comments and questions below.
Full story can be found here: cbc.ca/health/story/2008/10/13/to-bedbugs1013.html
Apartment Complex Tackles Bed Bug Infestation
Nate Morabito (Johnson City, Tennessee) wrote an article “Johnson City Apartment Complex Tackling Bed Bug Infestation” that will make your skin crawl. This apartment complex, John Sevier apartments, happens to be a government owned complex that houses senior citizens and people with disabilities. For the last year and a half these residents have had to live with roommates, but not just any roommates, bed bugs.
One resident, Bryan Saunders says “Vampires are real, they’ve evolved over the years into tiny, tick-size little bugs.” Another resident, Lavon Brooks, claims they are extremely itchy. Many of the residents realize that the bed bugs aren’t necessarily a health issue but an extreme nuisance. So as you can imagine, the residents at John Sevier haven’t gotten a good night’s sleep in quite a while.
So what’s the management going to do about this little problem? M & M Properties is the company that owns the apartment complex and their manager Harry Gibson hired Terminix to deal with the issue. However, many of the residents think they hired Terminix just a little too late, two years late in fact. A resident by the name of Brenda Springer claims that management has denied the fact that there even was a bed bug problem. But management denies Springer’s claim. A quote from the article states:
“We addressed it when we initially knew of the problem,” Gibson said.
“Here we thought we had it under control and about a month or so ago it
reoccurred.”
Terminix is holding sessions for volunteers and residents in order to prepare them for the upcoming extermination. Soon enough the apartment complex will be completely bed bug free and residents will be able to finally get a good night’s sleep. Springer however feels it’s “a band aid on a deep puncture.” However Gibson feels Terminix will remove the problem but agrees that a solution needs to be developed to keep future bed bugs out of the apartment complex.
Full story can be found here: tricities.com/tri/news/local/article/johnson_city_apartment_complex_tackling_bed_bug_infestation/14901/
Bed Bugs Force Students to Move
Imagine that you’re a college student at Goucher College in Baltimore. You are living in Towson’s Dulaney Valley Apartments just outside of campus. Now imagine adding bedbugs to the scenario. Unfortunately this really happened at this apartment complex forcing dozens of students to move out.
There were three confirmed incidents of bedbugs at the complex one in mid July and the other two in September. Many students moved closer to the college to a placed called the Sheraton while others to Dulaney Crescent Apartments. The college encouraged each and every student to move out of their apartments however some decided they’d take the chance and stay put. These students were asked to sign a liability waiver. About 30 of the 94 students decided to stay, others on the other hand couldn’t imagine staying. The article quotes a student, Marissa Kluger saying, “The thought that you could have bedbugs is frightening.”
The college felt obligated to assist students in moving although the apartment complex is now completely bedbug free after having a pest control company take care of the pests immediately after the September incident. Fortunately for the students they are now reassured they are living bedbug free. Bedbugs can come from many different places, but in hotels and apartment complexes they can spread and repopulate even faster. For tips on how to spot bedbugs check out our FAQ section and bedbug checklist.
If you think you may have bedbugs you’ll want to take immediate action or you may find yourself forced to move like some of the students at Goucher College.
Full story found here: baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_county/bal-bedbugs1008,0,2847195.story
Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite
Ever since we were little we’ve all heard our parents or grandparents use the phrase “don’t let the bed bugs bite!” Little did we know how very true that expression could become. Lisa Hartman wrote an article for New England Real Estate Journal discussing just how problematic these little pests have become. At one time bed bugs were thought to be eradicated throughout the entire United States but today it’s quite the opposite. The most common bed bug found in the US is Cimex lectularius and this particular bug is so problematic due to the fact that it hides so well, spreads easily, reproduces quickly and on top of that is quite difficult to treat. Because bed bugs reproduce so quickly it is vital to take action immediately.
A quote from the article says, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Because bed bugs are more commonly found in hotels and apartment buildings it is extremely beneficial and crucial to assign employees to do regular inspections for bed bugs and also inform current residents about on-going situations. Bed bugs can disperse throughout an entire building so if bed bugs are found in one place, they more than likely will be in another. In her article Hartman suggests that having a written plan in place by way of developing protocols for existing residents and for moving in new residents will go a long way towards reducing infestations. She also suggests that it is a wise decisions for owners to take action in not only removing bed bugs but also coming up with ways to prevent them because if they don’t the cost can be substantially higher. In the end, it is the owner’s responsibility as they are being left to get rid of furniture and clothing to more serious matters like paying for pest control and medical stress claims for the bed bugs.
The phrase “don’t let the bed bugs bite” is not just something cute to tell our children but in fact it is becoming more and more serious. For more information on bed bugs be sure to take a look at bed bugs FAQ. And as always, if you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them below.
Full article can be found here: nerej.com/26822
Bed Bug Sniffing Dog
Think you may have bedbugs? If you’re unsure why not hire a dog to investigate the situation for you? That’s what Belinda Hurley did. According to the article ‘Dog trained to sniff out bedbugs’ by Eric Robinette from the Middletown Journal (Middletown, Ohio) Hurley is Franklin Municipal Court’s probation officer and had Bella, a Labrador retriever, trained to detect bedbugs find the little pests in her own home. Gary Broberg, a dog trainer, is Bella’s owner and says that the insects give off a pheromone that Bella can smell. So just like a dog can be trained to detect drugs they can be trained to detect bedbugs.
So how much does hiring a dog to determine if you have a bedbug problem cost? In Bella’s case it runs anywhere from $250 to $800, depending on the size of the building. Is it worth spending the extra cash to hire a dog? According to Broberg Bella can offer assurance that insecticides can’t. A direct quote from Broberg from the article says: ‘…they could be hiding in cracks and crevices, but a dog will let you know if they’re there or not.’
Hurley defiantly was looking for that extra assurance, as she found Bella through law enforcement connections. Despite already having pest control in her home, Hurley wanted Bella to double check the situation and expressed her faith in canines. For some people paying the extra cash for a canine to detect bedbugs is well worth the price. It just may allow them to sleep better at night knowing that they are 100% bedbug free. After all say the pest control missed some of those bugs, say about 40 of them, just give it a mere six months and you’ll have over 5,905 of the little unwanted guests!
Full story found here: http://www.middletownjournal.com/hp/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/10/02/hjn100308bedbugdog.html
Bealla, the bed bug sniffing dog, can be found at bedbugdoginspection.com
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