United States pest control service Terminix ranked the top cities with the worst bed bug infestations. The report found Dayton, Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo and Cincinnati within the top 15 ranking.
The Terminix report covered company calls from Jan. 1 to Dec. 17, 2015. The report also found bed bug infestations have surged since the 1990s which could be linked to higher numbers of international travels and untreated cases of infestations.
"Most of the cities in our top 15 are big tourist and business destinations, making travelers even more at risk for encounters with bed bugs – whether it's on the plane, at their hotel, in a movie theater or riding in a taxi," said Terminix's technical services manager Paul Curtis.
Top 15 Bed Bugs Cities In The U.S. With Past Rankings
1. Detroit, Michgan (4)
2. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1)
3. Cleveland-Akron, Ohio (15)
4. Los Angeles, California (14)
5. Dayton, Ohio (-)
6. Chicago, Illinois (5)
7. Columbus, Ohio (8)
8. Cincinnati, Ohio (2)
9. Dallas-Forth Worth, Texas (7)
10. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, California (-)
11. Denver, Colorado (12)
12. Toledo, Ohio (-)
13. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (-)
14. Baltimore, Maryland (9)
15. New York City, New York (3)
Don't Let The Bed Bugs Bite
Bed bugs are a common cause of skin irritation. These parasitic insects get their name from the fact that they are found in close proximity to beds, where they feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals such as humans. Simliar to these pests that dwell in the same places are house dust mites, which are microscopic arachnids that feed on shed human skin and multiply in warm, humid environments, especially the bed.
In November 2015, the Ohio State University Acarology Lab released a disturbing video showing thousands of dust mites squirming in their own waste. Home hygiene expert Dr. Lisa Ackerley estimated there are about 10 million dust mites in a single bed, with each dust mite pooping out 20 tiny yellow feces in a single day.
Bed bugs bite, which can be annoying and unpleasant, but they don't cause any known disease so far. Dust mites, on the other hand, can cause allergic reactions due to contact with their feces, which can result in rhinitis, cough, dry eyes, hay fever and eczema.
According to health officials, dealing with an infestation will require professional extermination services. However, vacuuming regularly can get rid of bed bugs and dust mites.
"Vacuuming around the beds, the couches, where you have sleeping and where you have a problem. Steam heating. If you have a steamer it does help," said Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department's Howard Gamble, adding that the best solution for bed bug infestations in early stages is using hot water for washing and hot heat for drying.
Photo : David Goehring | Flickr
