Latest news with #infestation
The Independent
6 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Entire Boston condo complex on notice after 100,000 bed bugs found in unit occupied by hoarder: ‘It's disturbing'
Residents in a Boston -area condo complex are frustrated and horrified after learning that more than 100,000 bed bugs had infested their neighbor's home, and were spreading to theirs. Some residents of the Brookline, Massachusetts condo community have taken to cleaning out their units and throwing away anything that is or might be contaminated by bed bugs. One resident, Richard Rubin, told NBC 10 that the entire thing is "disturbing." According to the management at Concorde Condominiums, one of Rubin's neighbors has approximately 100,000 bed bugs in her apartment alone. Brookline's department of health said that the unit is occupied by an elderly woman with mental health and hoarding issues. The department told NBC 10 that the infestation in her unit is one of the worst it has ever seen. In May, inspectors saw the woman's condo and condemned it. The town determined that the unit was "unfit for human habitation." During their search, inspectors found bed bugs living on the woman's doors, walls, ceilings, hallways, and floors. On top of the bugs, the kitchen and bathroom were not even accessible to the woman due to the amount of trash piled up inside. "The danger to the life or health of any occupants is so immediate that immediate condemnation is ordered," the town wrote about the unit. Experts from Dewey Pest and Wildlife were called in to assist in the inspection and called the condo "deplorable." 'Conditions are best described as deplorable,' an entomologist with the service wrote, according to Brookline News. 'Most inspectable surfaces and items in the unit have been heavily contaminated by bedbugs and their feces.' Despite the order, the property management company still had to fight to get control of the unit from the woman. A judge ultimately sided with the property management at the condo and the woman who owns the unit was given a two week deadline to clean up her condo. She failed to clean the condo by the deadline, which gives the property management company permission to go in a clean it themselves. Property management told NBC 10 it plans to go into the unit next week, and it expects that practically everything inside will have to be thrown away. It is unclear what will happen to the condo owner after that, but property management at the complex hopes local government officials will be able to assist her. It's been two months since the situation came to light at the condos, and that's been enough time for the bed bugs to spread. According to the property management, the insects have spread to at least seven other units in the building. Rubin told NBC 10 that two residents have completely moved out over the issue. "It's very frustrating to a lot of tenants, and it causes a lot of aggravation," Rubin said. Rubin previously attended a Brookline Select Board meeting where he expressed his frustration at what he believed to be a lack of action on the part of local officials. 'As a building, we cannot get social services to go in and do anything. We don't have the power. We don't have the clout. You guys do. But nobody will exercise that power. Nobody will send somebody in,' he said. Town Administrator Charles Carey said the town couldn't have gone in any earlier without first obtaining a court order, and that now that the judge's deadline was passed, it could move to assist the residents. Another resident reportedly had a bed bug bite that became infected. Though that bite has since healed, the individual reportedly still have around 40 bites on his body, according to Brookline News. The resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said it was difficult to sleep knowing that overnight he'd be feasted on by insects. 'Just sleeping at night knowing you're getting eaten alive is unsettling,' he told the paper. Bed begs can cause swollen, red, itchy bites, can infest beds, couches, chairs, and clothing, and are notoriously difficult to fully exterminate from a home or apartment unit.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Check those sheets: This Georgia city is one of the worst in US for bed bugs
A city in Georgia has landed on a list no city wants to top, the top 10 bed bug-infested cities in the U.S. The study, by Terminix, is based on the number of bed bug control services across the country. With Atlanta consistently near the top, experts say residents and travelers alike should take extra precautions to avoid them. Here is what we know. According to the study, Atlanta takes the No. 6 spot, making it the most bed bug-prone city in Georgia. Philadelphia New York Cleveland-Akron (Canton) Los Angeles Dallas - Ft. Worth Atlanta Houston Washington, D.C (Hagerstown) San Francisco - Oak - San Jose Indianapolis Bedbugs are tiny pests capable of causing significant disruption with just one infestation. These small, brown, oval-shaped bugs spread rapidly. Adult females produce 200-500 eggs over their 6-12 month lifespan. Bedbugs were eradicated in the middle of the 20th century but made a triumphant return as the human population began to travel more, according to the UC Riverside Center for Invasive Species Research. Today, they can be found in dark, tight, hidden spaces. Here are some ways you can protect yourself and your belongings against infestation: Reduce clutter Vacuum frequently Keep your belongings away from others' Seal cracks Check and clean secondhand furniture and clothes Other than checking for the live bugs themselves, look for signs of: Reddish stains from bedbugs being crushed Dark spots from bedbug excrement Eggs, eggshells and shedding skins Wash bedsheets, clothing, linens and curtains in hot water. Then, put them in the dryer on the hot setting for at least 30 minutes. Use a stiff brush on mattress seams to remove bedbugs and their eggs. Vacuum your bed and the surrounding area. Place the vacuum cleaner bag in a plastic bag and put it in a trash can outside. Encase your mattress in a bed bug mattress cover and keep this on for at least a year since bed bugs can survive up to that long without feeding. Repair cracks in walls or plaster and glue down peeling wallpaper to limit hiding places. Get rid of clutter around the bed. While these tips can help, using chemicals is the most effective way to exterminate bed bugs. WebMD suggests hiring an experienced exterminator for the best results. Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@ This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia city ranks worst in America for bed bugs. Check your sheets
CBS News
20-06-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Dallas-Fort Worth ranks 5th in worst bed bug-infested cities in the U.S., study says
DFW is the 5th most bed bug-infested area in the U.S. DFW is the 5th most bed bug-infested area in the U.S. DFW is the 5th most bed bug-infested area in the U.S. If you need some motivation to get your laundry done, Dallas-Fort Worth is one of the most bed bug-infested areas in the country, according to call data released this month from the pest control company Terminix. The annual study ranks DFW as the fifth worst city for bed bugs in the U.S., topped only by Los Angeles, Cleveland, New York and reigning champ Philadelphia. The rankings are determined by the number of bed bug control services. The study says it's likely due to our warm climate, plus a high rate of tourism and travel. Bed bugs thrive in warm, humid conditions and love to hitchhike. How to identify bed bugs Full-grown bed bugs are brown or reddish-brown with an oval-shaped body about the size of an apple seed, the EPA says, while their young are much smaller, translucent or whitish-yellow, and can be very hard to see. Bed bugs come out at night to feed on human blood. Bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases, but their bites can cause allergic reactions. Bed bugs can be found in a variety of places, including homes, hotels, public transportation, and even some businesses. How to know if you've been bitten by a bed bug Bed bugs eat all three meals of the day at once, so look for the "breakfast, lunch and dinner" sign. The bites themselves often look like red bumps, but can also vary slightly from person to person. It may take several days for the marks to appear. Bed bugs are not attracted to dirt and grime and do not have a preference for specific blood types. Some people may have a strong reaction to bed bug bites, while others have little to no reaction, and it may appear that bed bugs are targeting specific individuals. According to the Mayo Clinic, bed bug bites don't usually need treatment and disappear on their own within a week or two. If needed, you can ease symptoms by using a skin cream containing hydrocortisone or an oral antihistamine. Travel tips When you arrive at a hotel or vacation rental, do a thorough search of the bed — underneath it, behind the bed frame, on the sides of the mattress and in between the mattress and frame. Bring a flashlight; check the seams of the bed sheets. If you see anything that looks like rust, call management. If you're able, turn over the mattress, no matter what size. Bed bugs like to congregate in dark places. You can also look for blood stains or small black dots that look like mold or ground pepper. Spraying with isopropyl alcohol can kill bed bugs, and it can kill their eggs — but it only kills on contact. The bugs must be sprayed directly, and it can be very difficult to find and expose them. Keeping your belongings off the ground in your accommodations is another way to prevent bedbugs from hitching a ride. Instead, opt to place items on the tops of dressers or other spots higher up. Believe it or not, the safest place in a hotel room to keep your luggage is in the bathtub. The critters are less likely to be found in the bathroom, where tile floors are less inviting. Examine your luggage when you repack and inspect it for any black or brown spots and launder all the clothing you brought with you with the hottest water when you get home. Preventing bed bug infestations If you've got some time on your hands and want to busy yourself with a home DIY project, you can buy some caulk and work to seal the cracks and crevices in your home, the EPA suggests. This will help prevent bed bugs and other pests from entering. Keep personal belongings as well as bags you've brought in from outside off the floor and away from your bed. Treating bed bug infestations Call an exterminator. Treatments cost anywhere from $1-$8 per square foot. Look for EPA-registered pesticides that have bed bugs listed on the label. Don't use pesticides and other powerful chemicals meant for outdoors, inside. Wash clothing and bedding at a high temperature. Seal mattresses and box springs in protective covers, the EPA says. With covers that seal, the bed bugs will get trapped inside and die. Steam cleaning and vacuuming can help, but may not be enough to rid your home of the critters. Keep inspecting for bed bugs at least every 7 days in case any eggs remain.
ABC News
19-06-2025
- General
- ABC News
Migrant worker's home infested with cockroaches
A video from the home migrants working in the NSW Riverina region under the PALM scheme shows an infestation of cockroaches. Supplied: Paul Maytom
CTV News
16-06-2025
- Science
- CTV News
Edmonton keeping eye out for ‘relentless killer' in tree canopy
In this Oct. 26, 2011 file photo, forester Jeff Wiegert, of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, removes emerald ash borer larvae from an ash tree at Esopus Bend Nature Preserve in Saugerties, N.Y. There are reports of a potential emerald ash borer beetle infestation in the Concord, N.H.-area. If the reports are confirmed, state officials will need to set up a quarantine to ensure infested ash trees, branches, logs, and firewood are contained. (AP Photo/Mike Groll, File)
