Category Archives: Bed Bugs Vermont

The horrific story of a Rutland, Vermont foster familys bout with bed bugs and subsequent failed treatment, followed by the alleged application of banned pesticides by a second pest control company, suggests some changes need to be made to how bed bugs are treated and that education about how to deal with bed bugs needs to be more widespread.

Vermont Public Radio (VPR) reported today on the story of Neil and Patricia Whitney, who have been foster parents for 21 years (and were deemed Rutlands Foster Parents of the Year in 2008). Two years ago, the family took in a foster child who had bed bugs, on the condition that the Vermont Dept. of Children and Families would pick up the bill for treatment, if it ended up being necessary later. Its not clear whether DCF also offered any educational materials on how to prevent the spread of bed bugs (such as using a Packtite or the dryer to treat clothing and items worn or brought into the home).

Had the foster childs clothing and belongings simply been treated before her arrival, the problem would likely have been prevented. Instead, a month later, the Whitneys discovered they had bed bugs.

Vermont Public Radio reports that DCF then asked the family to self-treat for bed bugs:

At first, the Whitneys said they were given cans of bug spray and told to take care of the problem themselves. When that didnt work, the state hired a company called Natures Way.

Patricia and Neil said despite multiple treatments, their bedbug problem worsened. I told them several times that I didnt think it was working, said Patricia. I told social workers, I told the resource coordinator, I told the district coordinator.

Starting with self-treatment was not a good idea.

And then when a professional pest control team was brought in, the state hired Natures Way, a company whose website suggests they use Cryonite (freezing CO2) and Actisol Fog Machines in treating bed bugs, though we do not know if these were the methods in use in this case.

When the bed bugs persisted, things went from bad to worse. VPR reports that in April 2013, the state hired Cary Buck of AAA Accredited Pest Control which DFC claimed was the Dept. of Healths go-to company.

After treatment by Buck, the Whitneys were concerned by the state of their home, claiming chemical was dripping off the kitchen counter and I could see where it was pooling on the floor (the kitchen counter!), and then

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Vermont foster family gets bed bugs & hazmat situation ...

Description

Adult bed bugs are about 3/16" long broadly oval and flat. Their color is brown to reddish brown (after feeding) and the upper surface of their body is covered with short golden hairs and emits an "obnoxiously sweet" odor from their scent glands.

Female bed bugs lay 1- 5 eggs per day and deposit their eggs in cracks or on rough surfaces and secure them with transparent cement for an average total of 200 - 500 eggs in a lifetime. Developmental time for an egg to adult takes 21 days and a bed bug can live for 11 months.

Bed bugs must complete 5 instars before becoming an adult bed bug. The bed bug requires a blood meal before molting (shedding their skin cast) and progressing to the next instar. The adult female bed bug also requires a blood meal before egg laying.

Humans are the preferred host of bed bugs but in their absence bed bugs will feed on poultry, canaries, English sparrows, mice, rats, guinea pigs, and bats.

The bed bug bite is painless but most people develop an allergic reaction to the saliva injected by the bug as it feeds. A swelling usually results from feeding but there is no red spot such as is characteristic with flea bites. Swelling may be severe and extend beyond the immediate bite area in highly sensitive individuals.

Bed bugs have been found to be infected with some 25 different disease organisms. Survival time within the bed bug was found to be especially long for the organisms of plague, relapsing fever, tularemia, and Q fever. However, there is no evidence that bed bugs transmit disease to humans.

Bed bugs harbor in cracks and crevices during the day and come out to feed at night. Typically they can be found around mattress buttons and beading, in box springs or their coverings, and in any crevice of a wooden bed frame, such as where members join. Other places to check are wall hangings such as picture frames, night stands, stuffed furniture, baseboards, floorboard cracks, behind loose wallpaper, light switches, door and window frames, conduits, etc. In heavy infestations, bed bugs may be found in wall voids, attics, and other enclosed places. They will crawl considerable distances to obtain a blood meal. They can be introduced into a structure via furniture or in the belongings of someone who has been living in a bed bug infested situation. Adults can survive for up to 11 months if they are well fed and they can feed on other animals if humans are not present. When temperature falls below 61 degrees Fahrenheit adults enter semi hibernation and can survive for months. Bed bug infestations have been found in transportation vehicles such as boats, trains, airplanes, and buses as well as movie theaters where they typically harborage in seats and associated frames.

Please call L/R Pest Elimination (802) 658-3242 for information about bed bug treatment services.

Read more here:
Bed Bugs | LR Pest Elimination Services | Essex Junction ...

The employees of Vermont Service Center are puzzled. Their question who brought the bed bugs in their office?

According to the federal offices employees, their building was inspected on Wednesday. During which, a number of chairs and filing cabinets were moved out.

However, it wasnt the first time that bed bugs were sighted in the center. Actually, the most-recent bed bug inspection was already the third one implemented on the building.

But the fact that there were bed bugs in the said office wasnt the only thing that the workers were complaining about. They were also upset that they were expected to work even in those areas that are likely infested by the pests.

To solve the bed bug problem, Service Centers Acting Director, Karen FitzGerald, said in an official statement that an extermination was already scheduled last weekend. And as she added, the department is also committed to working together with its employees, partners and the bed bug experts to put an end to the problem.

Read more about Bed Bugs Sighted in a Vermont Federal Office

They dont come in from the outside, said Jon Quackenbush of PestPro. They are strictly brought in.

The question for federal workers at the Vermont Service Center in St. Albans who or what brought bedbugs into the building? Workers say a bedbug-sniffing dog showed up Wednesday, and some chairs and filing cabinets have been removed. It is the third time exterminators have been brought in for bedbugs since April.

Read more about Bed Bugs Got Inside Vermont Service Center at: wcax.com

The rest is here:
Bed Bugs Got Vermont Service Center - MyCleaningProducts.com

Bed bug registry on 07/22/2013

All of the reports have been disputed.

Marisa on 10/16/2011

I stayed at the Doubletree Hilton for labor day weekend 2011 for three nights and returned home with bedbugs. I hired a certified bedbug dog and she went right to our suitcases that we have not used in almost three years except to this hotel. The hotel claims that Orkin came in and did a visual inspection of the room which took only a half an hour for an entire suite (doubtful) and claim nothing was found. Statistics state that a visual inspection is about 35% accurate while certified dog is 98%

accurate. I would trust the dog over a hotel manager trying to save face any day. I have contacted Expedia with issue as I do not want anyone else to suffer like I am. This is an expensive three day trip and the first trip I have taken in almost three years. Very upset with the hotel and the way in which they are handling things. Manager of rooms Jonathan Amon was extremely rude and not cooperative.

Doubletree Burlington on 06/17/2009

Guest reported potential bed bug bites on 5/13 11am . Orkin company called immediately room was quarrentined. Orkin tore suite apart ,removed all wall fixtures. checked all bedding including sofa. Orkin found no sign of bed bug infestation or any other bug problem. Orkin gave clean inspection report at 2pm report is on file at front desk. Orkin representative also believed that symptems described were inconsistant to bed bug bites. We have called guest and will be sending report and and other

information to guest.There has never been a bed bug infestation at this hotel. Rick Milliken General Manager

Doubletree Burlington on 05/21/2009

As follow up to previous post: The managment of this hotel is outright denying that they have any type of bugs in there hotel. They claim to have an exterminator report available to verify that there were bugs of no kind found in the room where I stayed with my family. My daughter was covered in bites that swelled to welts, our MD confirmed that they were bed bug bites and the appearance of the bites are consistent with the many pictures of people bitten by bed bugs that I viewed online. There

Originally posted here:
Bed Bug Report for Doubletree Burlington, South Burlington, VT

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are small insects that feed on human blood. They are usually active at night when people are sleeping. Adult bed bugs have flat, rusty-red-colored oval bodies. About the size of an apple seed, they are big enough to be easily seen, but often hide in cracks in furniture, floors, or walls. When bed bugs feed, their bodies swell and become brighter red. They can live for several months without food or water.

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Most bed bug bites are initially painless, but later turn into large, itchy skin welts. These welts do not have a red spot in the center like flea bites.

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Although bed bugs are a nuisance, they are not known to spread disease.

Signs and symptoms of bedbug bites will usually affect only the surface of your skin, revealing themselves as small itchy red bumps known as papules or wheals. You might find the lesions in a linear or clustered fashion, indicative of repeated feedings by a single bedbug.

Some people may develop allergic reactions or larger skin reactions such as:

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In most cases, people carry bed bugs into their homes unknowingly, in infested luggage, furniture, bedding, or clothing. Bed bugs may also travel between apartments through small crevices and cracks in walls and floors.

Go here to see the original:
Vermont Health Department: Stop Bed Bugs Safely