Bedbugs discovered twice recently in Topeka VA medical unit | The … – Topeka Capital Journal

Bedbugs were found last week and again Tuesday night in a medical unit at the Topeka VA Medical Center.

When the bedbugs were discovered last week, eradication efforts began immediately, said Joseph Burks, public affairs officer for the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System.

Patients returned after an inspection showed the area was clear. Late Tuesday night, one dead bug and one live bug were found in the same unit, Burks said.

Our team is aware and taking action in moving patients out safely and efficiently, he said. Our environmental management service is working with exterminators and taking extra measures in re-evaluating and treating the unit again.

The bedbugs were first treated with insecticide, but heat will be used to eradicate them this time. Heat is able to penetrate into small crevices and kill bedbugs in all stages, Burks said.

When a bedbug is confirmed on a patient or in a room, the room is sealed off and pest control is contacted. The room is closed anywhere from two to 24 hours depending on the infestation and treatment. Pest control rechecks the room, and the VAs environmental management service cleans and reopens it, Burks said.

It is reported that nearly all pest professionals at some time or another have treated bedbugs and that one out of five Americans has had a bedbug infestation in their home or knows someone who has encountered bedbugs at home or in a hotel, Burks said.

He added that research has shown that bedbugs dont transmit diseases, though they may cause itchy red welts.

We at VA Eastern Kansas take patient and employee safety and a healthy healing environment for our veterans very seriously, Burks said.

In October 2016, bedbugs were found in an administrative building on the Topeka VAs campus.

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Bedbugs discovered twice recently in Topeka VA medical unit | The ... - Topeka Capital Journal