Bed Bug Control Survey: Bed Bug Infestations on Rise

NPMA Staff

Bed Bug Detection & Prevention Tips for Homeowners

A new poll of National Pest Management Association (NPMA) members shows that bed bugs remain a serious problem for Americans. Bed bug control professionals across the country are seeing more bed bug infestations this summer compared to last year, with some reporting increases of up to 25 percent.

“For anyone who may think bed bugs have come and gone, these reports will make them think twice,” said Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for NPMA. “Our members are seeing an overwhelming increase in bed bug calls, with some reporting double digit growth, especially during the past few months when most Americans took their summer vacations.”

“As evidenced by this information and NPMA’s research in recent years, bed bugs continue to plague consumers. We encourage people not to panic, but to be mindful that bed bug bites can be painful and infestations difficult and costly to treat. Precaution is the best protection,” added Henriksen.

The 2011 “Bugs Without Borders” survey found that 99 percent of U.S. pest professionals treated for bed bugs in the previous year.

NPMA offers the following bed bug prevention tips:

• In hotels, college dorms or sleep-away camps, pull back the sheets and inspect the mattress seams, particularly at the corners, for telltale stains or spots.  If you see anything suspect, notify management/residence advisor/camp counselor immediately.
• Thoroughly inspect the entire room before unpacking, including behind the headboard and in sofas/chairs.  If any pests are spotted, do not unpack, remove your belongings and request a change in rooms/cabins.
• Be sure that you do not move to a room adjacent and/or directly above/below the suspected infestation. 
• Upon returning home, inspect suitcases and other belongings before bringing them into the house.
• Wash all of your clothes - even those that have not been worn - in hot water to ensure that any bed bugs that may have made it that far are not placed into your drawers/closet.

For more information about bed bugs, visit allthingsbedbugs.org.

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.

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