Information gathered from Pest Control Technology, PCT, Magazine, December 2011

Do bed bugs carry disease?  The answer to this question is still vague.  The National Pest Management Association took a survey, nearly half of the respondents believe that bed bugs do carry disease.  Michael Merchant, professor and extension urban entomologist at Texas AgriLife Research & Extension Center, indicates that the availability of information may be adding to the confusion.  “In our information age, customers have more access to information than ever before.  Some of it is good, some of it is just inaccurate.”  In a study noted in a journal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), researchers found that bed bugs tested positive for two different strands of antibiotic-resistant pathogens – Enterococcus faecium and Staphylococcus aureus.  Reality is that research on the public health risks of bed bugs is in it’s infancy and there are no clear, scientifically proven answers.

Bed bug bites are a nuisance, but physical reactions to them vary greatly.  Many people have mild to severe reaction to the bites. Bites can also lead to secondary infections of the skin such as impetigo, ecthyma and lymphanigitis. Mental health issues are a concern for people living with a bed bug infestations. They can stem from anxiety and insomnia, to systemic reactions.

If you believe you have bed bug infestation please call Activ Pest Solutions to schedule a same day inspection.  302-645-1502