Category Archives: Bed Bugs New York

(credit: STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES (CBS) Los Angeles is among the topten cities inthe nation with the most bed bugs, according to a study released Wednesday by Orkin.

Orkin announced its top 50 bed bug cities for 2011, and the City of Angelsranked fifth. Cincinnati came in at number one, followed by Chicago, Detroit and Denver.

The study ranked cities in order of the number of bed bug treatments Orkin preformed from Jan. to Dec. 2011.

Los Angeles jumped from 25th place in the 2010 rankings to fifth in 2011. New York ranked ninth, down two spots from the previous year.

In 2011, Orkins parent company, Rollins, saw a 33.6 percent increase in bed bug business compared to 2010, the study said.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, bed bugs can carry more than 30 different human pathogens, but there is no evidence that bed bugs can transmit diseases. Their bites can, however, leave itchy welts on their victims. Red marks or swelling may also develop, the study said.

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Study: LA Ranks 5th Among Top Bed Bug Cities In America

Pest control company Orkin has released their annual list of the most bed bug-ridden cities in the U.S. and it turns out San Diego lets the bed bugs bite -- but not as much as other cities.

Orkin ranked Americas Finest City number 26 on the list, which is based on the number of bed bug treatments the company performed in 2011.

The top spot for bed bugs went to Cincinnati, Ohio. Chicago took home second place, while Detroit came in third for bed bug infestation and Denver ranked fourth.

Los Angeles took the fifth spot on the list, up a whopping 20 spots from last year, when it came in at number 25. Dallas/Fort Worth took 7th place, a drastic change from 50th place last year.

Perennial bed bug hotspot New York City dropped two places to ninth, while the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose area took the 12th spot.

Overall, the number of bed bug incidents climbed 33.6-percent over the previous year.

"The changes in some cities' rankings show bed bugs continue to be a problem in most areas of the U.S.," said Orkin entomologist and Technical Services Director Ron Harrison.

"Several of the top 50 cities have large, busy airports, and there could be a correlation between increased travel and bed bug activity."

To avoid bringing bed bugs home from a trip, Orkin advices travelers to remember the acronym S.L.E.E.P.

It stands for the following: Survey bed surfaces for small, rust-colored spots on the sheets. Lift and look for pesky bed bugs in hiding spots such as underneath the mattress or furniture, Elevate luggage or a rack or chair, away from the bed. Examine luggage carefully while repacking. Place all clothing from luggage immediately in the dryer for at least 15 minutes on the highest setting as soon as returning home from a trip.

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San Diego Lets the Bed Bugs Bite

FILE - In a Feb. 1, 2011 file photo, bedbugs are seen next to the tip of a finger in a container from the lab at the National Pest Management Association, during the National Bed Bug Summit in Washington. Researchers now say that the creepy bugs have a special genetic gift: withstanding incest. It turns out that unlike most creatures, bedbugs are able to inbreed with close relatives and still produce generally healthy offspring. That means that if just a few bedbugs survive in a building after treatment, they repopulate quickly. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) (Alex Brandon)

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles climbed 20 spots to fifth in the nation in number of bed bug incidents treated by pest control company Orkin last year.

The company recently released a list of the top 50 cities based on the number of bed bug treatments it did in 2011.

The overall number of incidents climbed 33.6 percent over the previous year.

Cincinnati had the highest number of bed bug treatments, followed by Chicago, Detroit, Denver and Los Angeles.

The perennial hotspot New York City dropped two places to ninth.

The San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose area was 12th, San Diego, 26th, and Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, 41st.

"The changes in some cities' rankings show bed bugs continue to be a problem in most areas of the U.S.," said Orkin entomologist and Technical Services Director Ron Harrison. "Several of the top 50 cities have large, busy airports, and there could be a correlation between increased travel and bed bug activity.

The rankings could also reflect an overall rise in population or greater public awareness of bed bugs and how to identify them, Harrison said.

Orkin advised travelers to remember the acronym S.L.E.E.P. to avoid bringing bed bugs home from a trip:

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Bed bugs singin' 'We love L.A.'

CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) -

Cincinnati maintains its position as the #1 city for bed bugs, according to a report released by Orkin on Friday.

1. Cincinnati 2. Chicago 3. Detroit 4. Denver 5. Los Angeles 6. Columbus, Ohio 7. Dallas 8. Washington, D.C. 9. New York City 10. Richmond, VA

"The changes in some cities' rankings show bed bugs continue to be a problem in most areas of the U.S.," said Orkin entomologist and Technical Services Director Ron Harrison, Ph.D. "Several of the top 50 cities have large, busy airports, and there could be a correlation between increased travel and bed bug activity. The changes could also be because the bed bug population is increasing overall, or even because the public is becoming more aware of bed bugs and has become better adept at identifying them."

Bed bugs can multiply quickly, so early detection is critical to preventing a larger infestation. And since infestations can be difficult to control, Orkin advises vacationers to take the proper precautions before enjoying spring break activities to avoid contact with and spreading the blood-suckers.

"Bed bugs can be found in other places than the bedroom," warns Dr. Harrison. "They're great hitchhikers and tend to settle where people sleep, particularly in hotel rooms, but they can also crawl into personal belongings and make their way into planes, gyms, offices, stores and worse, your home."

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, bed bugs can carry more than 30 different human pathogens, but there is no evidence that bed bugs can transmit diseases. Their bites can, however, leave itchy welts on their victims. Red marks or swelling may also develop.

"One thing that's not a factor is sanitation," said Dr. Harrison. "Be sure to do some investigating when you arrive at your hotel, whether it's a one-star or a five-star property. Bed bugs are nocturnal and resemble apple seeds in size and color, so check mattress seams, sheets and furniture, behind baseboards, electrical outlet plates and picture frames for small reddish-brown spots and lightly-colored molted bed bug skins."

When traveling, think of the acronym S.L.E.E.P. to remember the following action steps to help avoid bringing bed bugs home with you:

Orkin says their bed bug business is up 33-percent over 2010.

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REPORT: Cincinnati ranks #1 for bed bugs

New York City has tried using the Internet, dogs and is now considering more warnings to help correct the city bed bug problem. (STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

This column originally ran on April 5, 2011. With resident columnist Nina Pajak on vacation for two weeks, were taking a look back at her most popular rants. __________________________

By Nina Pajak

I live in fear. The bed bugs. Are literally. Everywhere. Theyre in my bed, my furniture, my chair at work, the conference room. Theyre on that guy next to me on the subway, and that girl sitting over there. Hey, get away from me. Did you just touch me? I hope you didnt. Im sending you my dry cleaning bill.

I am tormented. Every night I lie awake, feeling the sheets for them, popping the covers up fast to surprise them as they launch their attack. I reach down to scratch my leg. Whats that bump? Oh man, its a bug! Oh wait, its a birthmark. But whats this I feel by my foot? Oh lord, its a bug! Oh wait, its a microbial speck of lint. Only, is it? No! Oh wait, yes.

Ive pretty much ceased shopping (an unexpected and positive side effect) and I inspect the seams of seat cushions in taxis (this, on the other hand, is generally inadvisable). Just thinking about them gives me hives, which I become convinced are bites, which gives birth to new hives, and so on and so forth. This cannot go on.

Related: CBSNewYorks Guide To Living In Americas Most Bed Bug-Infested City

Heres the thing: I dont actually have bed bugs. As far as I know, they are not now nor have ever been in my apartment. But they could be! I had a brush with them in a mistake of a hotel in Washington, D.C., and I managed to leave them there. But I feel like I just dodged a Nina-seeking missile. Did you ever see Final Destination? You cant cheat deathor bed bugs. Its only a matter of time.

Related: NYC Hotels: Where Not To Stay In The Big Apple

Each year, an epidemic is announced. And each, it gets worse.

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Nina In New York: Bed Bug Torment