Bed bugs have been deemed a pest of “significant public health importance” by the Environmental Protection Agency since 2002.   Anyone who has ever encountered these blood sucking creatures would be in agreement.  As a result of the current standing of bed bugs, programs are supposed to be put in place for the safe use of chemicals or other methods to combat and control the pests…according to the law!
 
The Environmental Protection Agency held the first ever National Bed Bug Summit in the Washington, DC area on April 14, 2009.  In attendance were members from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Centers for Disease Control, scientists, state and local officials, exterminators and even a Pentagon representative.

The general consensus of attendees was that these bloodsuckers are the most un-manageable of all pests.  Exterminators want the power to “go to war” and have the freedom to fight the bed bugs.  One speaker told of the particularly nasty stain of insecticide resistant super bed bug that has taken up residence in Arlington, Virginia.

The media coverage on the Summit has been interesting.  The funniest report that I heard was from one reporter who said “If you have bed bugs and want to get rid of them; the best thing to do is wipe your mattress down with a sponge and hot water.  If that does not work, call an exterminator.”   Okay, only part of that statement is good information.  Can you guess which part?

It will be interesting to see what the results of the Summit will be and how much national attention will be brought to the bed bug crisis.

If you have bed bugs in New York or New Jersey, call a professional exterminator to end the nightmare.