Bed Bugs Attack New Yorkers, Others – CDC

Bed Bugs Are A Growing Menace

Bed bugs are a notorious bunch, preying on unsuspecting hotel guests, airline passengers, tourists and ordinary residents.

A recent spate of cases of infestation of the critters were mostly reported from New York City according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. City residents and tourists there have clamored for a better response from health officials in addressing the growing problem.

Exterminators from all over the country are having a tough time in killing bed bugs. Residents are taking matters into their own hands, using pesticides to kill the pesky insects.

But this practice has only caused more harm than good. According to CDC data, up to 80 people have fallen ill and eight people have died because of pesticide poisoning over the past three years.

One of those killed was an elderly woman from North Carolina who used nine cans of insecticide to kill bed bugs in her home. But she did not ventilate the room properly and even sprayed her body with the chemical.

Insecticides poisoning can cause dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting and breathing difficulty in mild cases. Health officials are warning the public not to resort to drastic measures to solve their problem about bed bugs.

The insects' bite can cause itching and hives but they are not believed to spread disease. The danger lies in the way people try to get rid of them.

Bed bugs are difficult to recognize and may hide for long periods of time. They are active at night and will suck your blood as they bite. Just the thought of that have many people cringing.

Posted by George Daniels on Friday September 23 2011, 2:53 AM EST. Ref: ABC. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Health. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0