Survey conducted in
partnership with the University of Kentucky reveals growing
epidemic
(Fairfax, VA) - A new survey conducted by the National Pest
Management Association (NPMA) and the University of Kentucky, confirms what pest
management professionals across the U.S. and around the world have
been seeing in the field - bed bugs are back in a
very big way, with 95 percent of U.S. survey respondents indicating
that their company has encountered a bed bug infestation in the
past year. Prior to 2000, only 25 percent of U.S. survey
respondents encountered a bed bug infestation.
"The results of the 2010 Comprehensive Global Bed Bug Study
suggest that we are on the threshold of a bed bug pandemic, not
just in the United States, but around the world," said Missy
Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for NPMA. "Because bed
bugs don't discriminate between rich and poor, don't have a
preference for climate or environment, public awareness, education
and vigilance are key in detecting and preventing bed bug
infestations."
In the U.S., bed bugs are infesting homes, apartments, hotels,
retail stores, offices, places of worship, college dorms,
hospitals, daycares, libraries, modes of transportation, movie
theaters, laundry facilities and other places where humans live and
gather.
If the public knows what to look for, bed bugs can be easy to
spot. In fact, visual inspections are the preferred method of
determining if a bed bug infestation exists according to survey
respondents. Bed bugs are the size and color of an apple seed, like
to travel and will hide in suitcases, boxes and shoes to be near a
food supply. They are elusive, nocturnal creatures, and beside the
mattress and headboard, they can be found behind baseboards,
electrical switch plates, picture frames, wallpaper, upholstery and
in furniture crevices. They come out at night for a blood meal.
The findings of the 2010 Comprehensive Global Bed Bug Study, are
based on responses from nearly 1,000 U.S. and international pest
management companies. Here are several key survey highlights:
1. Professional pest management companies have reported a
dramatic increase in bed bug calls in recent years. While,
there is not one clear answer for the resurgence of bed bugs, the
majority of respondents cited increased travel and movement of
people from across town and around the globe, lack of societal
awareness and precautions, and changing pest control products and
methods.
2. Bed bugs are a much greater problem in urban and
suburban areas with larger populations of people who live close
together and interact in enclosed spaces on a regular basis.
Because of the bed bugs' ability to "hitchhike" on people and their
belongings, these living environments will continue to see higher
infestation occurrences than those living in rural areas. According
to the survey, 52 percent of pest management companies report
treating bed bug infestations in rural areas compared to 71 percent
in urban and 80 percent in suburban areas.
3. Bed bugs are THE most difficult pest to treat,
according to 76 percent of survey respondents, more so than
cockroaches
, ants
and termites
. As for where infestations occur, residences top the
list with 89 percent of pest professionals treating bed bug
infestations in apartments/condos and 88 percent treating bed bug
infestations in single-family homes. Respondents also report other
common areas, with 67 percent treating bed bug infestations in
hotels/motels, 35 percent in college dormitories, 9 percent on
various modes of transportation, 5 percent in laundry facilities,
and 4 percent in movie theatres.
4. Although bed bugs are not known to transmit disease to
humans, their bites do leave itchy welts on human skin and can
cause an allergic reaction in some people. Additionally, the
emotional and mental toll of experiencing a bed bug infestation can
be severe and should not be taken lightly. Survey respondents
report that 99% of clients who have had bed bugs were "upset and
concerned" and 77% said such customers were "very upset and
concerned."
For more information about bed bugs visit the Bed Bug Hub, NPMA's
resource on everything bed bug related, from prevention tips to
current news.
The NPMA, a non-profit
organization with more than 7,000 members, was established in 1933
to support the pest management industry's commitment to the
protection of public health, food and property.
###