In the world of bed bugs and pest control, there are always plenty of interesting stories making the news each week. At Bed Bug Guide, we like to keep ourselves well informed about the latest developments. This is the fifth in our series of regular news roundups, in which we summarize the top headlines that grabbed our attention over the past month.
- Arizona Airport Forced to Remove Seating due to Bed Bug Infestation
In a bad case of timing, right before the holiday travel season, Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport has been forced to remove several padded benches due to a serious bed bug infestation in Terminal 4. Airport officials said 200,000 travellers pass through Sky Harbor each day, and bed bug outbreaks are inevitable with that volume of passengers. Bed bugs thrive anywhere humans are present, and can easily be introduced to a new area through contaminated luggage or clothing. Officials say the bugs were isolated to a pre-security zone of the airport.
- Tennessee Students Exposed to Bed Bugs on Camping Trip
Harold McCormick Elementary students were exposed to bed bugs this month following an overnight camping trip for fifth graders. The pests were first spotted on bed sheets in a dormitory that housed 30 female students. According to Director of Elizabethton City Schools Dr. Corey Gardenhour, a bed bug sniffer dog then searched the student’s luggage, discovering more bugs in their bags, and one on the school bus. Administrators sealed the contaminated items in plastic bags and sent an advisory note home to parents.
- British Airways Issues Apology to Family Attacked By Bed Bugs During Flight
British Airways has apologized to a family bitten by bed bugs during a flight to London from Vancouver last month. Canadian mother Heather Szilagyi was travelling with her daughter and fiancé when she noticed the bugs on their seats. Ms Szilagyi notified the flight attendant, but the flight was sold out and there was nowhere to move the family. Upon landing, after enduring nine hours of bites, Ms Szilagyi posted photos of the itchy red marks to her Twitter account. The airline apologized and upgraded the family to business class for their return journey.
- New Study Shows Bed Bugs and Other Pests are Thriving in Modern Cities
A study released this month by the University of Toronto’s Centre for Urban Environments revealed that pests such as rats, bed bugs, mosquitoes, lice and cockroaches are becoming genetically resistant to common poisons and pesticides. The review assessed insects, birds, reptiles and plants across various stages of evolution. It found the expansion of human cities is driving the evolution of highly resilient super-pests, which are proving hazardous to human wellbeing. Bed bugs in particular have grown incredibly resistant to pyrethroid insecticides. “There are clear examples of where evolution in organisms seems to be influencing the evolution of human health,” said Marc Johnson, co-author of the study.
- New York Couple Sues Disney Following Bed Bug Infestation
Allyson and Kevin Hamedl of Poughquag, NY, are seeking damages of up to $1 million on grounds that Disney Vacation Development failed to exercise reasonable care in the management and operation of its Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. According to the lawsuit, the couple awoke to bed bugs crawling all over their walls, bed and linens. Over the following months, Mrs Hamedl missed work and experienced difficulty sleeping as she recovered from the itchy and painful bites. She claims to have sought psychiatric treatment and continues to suffer from anxiety following the attack.
- Father Almost Kills 3-Year-Old Daughter While Trying to Eradicate Bed Bugs
A 3-year-old child is in intensive care in Jacobi Medical Center, New York, after consuming rat poison placed by her father in their Bronx apartment. The girl was admitted to hospital with severe vomiting and flu-like symptoms. According to local police officers, the entire family experienced similar symptoms after the poison was laid around the home in an attempt to get rid of bed bugs. The family was initially released, but the little girl was rushed back two days later after her condition deteriorated.
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