Health unit invests in bed bug kits – The North Bay Nugget

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The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit is purchasing more than 3,030 bed bug detection kits for $51,000 to distribute to all social housing units.

The kits and bait refills will be distributed to all tenants of Nipissing District Housing Corporation and District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB) properties.

According to DNSSAB, the bed bug kits cost $48,659, plus $2,341 for educational materials.

These kits will help to address reported bed bug issues for residents living in Nipissing District Housing Services and social housing partner properties, said Louise Gagne, manager of planning, evaluation and communications services.

DNSSAB has been dealing with a bed bug infestation for months, However, some tenants would argue for years.

This fall, several units at the Golden Age Towers on Worthington Street West and Edgewater Apartments on Lakeshore Drive were identified to have bed bugs.

DNSSAB hired a company to rectify the problem, which included allowing sniffer dogs into the building to help identify the infested apartments.

Several residents spoke to The Nugget in September and October about the issue, expressing frustration that it wasnt being resolved.

Lana Mitchell, the executive director for Low Income People Involvement of Nipissing (LIPI), brought the issue forward in April.

She said clients came into the office with bed bugs on them and others had been bitten.

The bed bug situation in our community is becoming quite the challenge, she stated.

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Health unit invests in bed bug kits - The North Bay Nugget