Google confirmed their bed bug outbreak on Friday.  A spokeswoman said “Like several other businesses in New York City, we’ve discovered bedbugs in a small area of our office. We have notified employees and are taking steps to treat the affected area.” Wonderful.

Google is the latest in a long line of New York City businesses to report bed bug infestations for the summer of 2010.  The blood suckers have found there way into upscale shopping establishments, the Empire State Building, Time Warner, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office, the Kings County Hospital, and just recently a movie theater in Times Square.  Just this past week a pop singer reports that she was visiting New York City and she claims that her $500 a night hotel room was infested with the buggers too.

New York City encourages residents to call 311 to report any bed bug infestations.  You can also obtain helpful information about how to avoid bed bugs and treatment options.  In a somewhat funny turn of events, it has been reported by NY1 that New York’s 311 call center in Lower Manhattan was fumigated for their own bed bug invasion last Tuesday!

Don’t let bed bugs take over your home or business.  Call a bed bug pest control expert today!

New York is now leading the pack in new bed bug legislation.  On Monday, August 30, 2010 Governor David Paterson approved legislation that would require that parents be notified when bed bugs are found within New York schools.

Specifically, Bill Number A05434 would require “city school districts having a population of one million or more to notify parents and persons in parental relation of any bedbug infestations found in a school.”  According to the new law, notifications from school health officials will be sent when any bed bugs are discovered within a school.

In previous school years, when bed bugs were discovered on a student or in/on his belongings, only the family was notified of the bed bug problem.  It was up to the individual school’s health officials to determine if they were to notify the staff or other parents within the school community of the problem.

This new law is crucial because bed bugs infestations can spread easily and quickly.  It only stands to reason that parents and staff members should be notified if an infestation has occurred within a school so that they can safeguard their own home from the dreaded blood suckers.  With proper notification, parents will be able to be proactive and look for bed bugs in their own child’s belongings so that they can seek immediate assistance if they bring the bugs home from school.  If bed bugs are found, they will hopefully be able to catch the infestation early so that a major infestation does not occur within their own home, or spread throughout the entire school or beyond.

When it comes to bed bug infestations, knowledge is power!  If you have a bed bug infestation in Secaucus, New Jersey, the Greater New York City Metro or and Connecticut Regions, contact Stern Environmental Group for expert bed bug eradication services!

The residents of New York have been waiting on pins and needles for Governor Paterson’s okay on this bill.  Just recently, he rejected another bed but related bill that would have required that used mattresses, which would later be resold, be sanitized before being stored with new mattresses.  As it stands now, new mattresses can easily be infested with bed bugs.

Some skeptics of the new legislation think that the new bill might just be too little, too late, to make a difference with New York’s bed bug infestation problem.

New York is the second state to implement such a law to protect potential renters, and Maine was the first.  New Jersey has had similar legislation pending for quite some time.  Some experts think that now that New York’s bill has passed, that there will be many other states that will also follow suit to protect their residents.

Bed bugs are a huge problem in New York City and new protocols are being set in place to help combat the nocturnal nibblers that are terrorizing the city.  These blood suckers have also found their way throughout the entire state.  If you think that New York City is the only state that is dealing with the pests on a large scale, you would be very wrong.  Terminix just released a list of their top 15 most infested cities based on call volume and confirmed bed bug cases. Here are the cities from 1 – 15:  NYC, Philadelphia, Detroit, Cincinnati, Chicago, Denver, Columbus, Dayton, Washington, Los Angeles, Boston, Indianapolis, Louisville, Cleveland, and Minneapolis.

The simple fact is…bed bugs are now everywhere.  All states need better legislation on the books and residents need to contact a licensed pest control specialist if they think they have bed bugs!

Pick up any national newspaper on any given day and you will likely find a bed bug related story.  Surf the internet and you will absolutely find an endless amount of stories about unfortunate souls who are suffering with their own bed bug infestation problems.  Query the internet for information on bed bugs and you will find a vast array of information about how to avoid bed bugs, treatment plans, pesticide information, legislation information, pending bed bug lawsuits, bed bug behavior, bed bug life cycle information, bed bug photographs, bed bug products, and bed bug services.  Simply put, there is an endless amount of information available online, but unfortunately, some of the information that is published is not always correct and it can be confusing to consumers.  The great news is that you can always rely on the incredibly accurate bed bug and pest control information on the Stern Environmental Group’s website!

Douglas Stern, of Stern Environmental Group, is considered to be an expert in the treatment of bed bugs and other types of pest control, for both homes and businesses.   As such, he is often contacted by media outlets to share his expertise.  Stop by our “News Room” webpage to view articles where Douglas Stern has been quoted in.  Douglas Stern would be happy to provide you with a personalized interview as well.  You may contact him at 1-888-887-8376.

While visiting the Stern Environmental Group’s website, be sure to take a look at all of the fantastic pest information that we have available.  We strive to provide you with the most up-to-date information, products, and services to make your home or business pest free.  You can easily stay connected with the most current information by following us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and our blog as well.

In October of 2009, the Governor of Ohio asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for an emergency exemption that would allow the use of propoxur to be used in Ohio homes.  Currently, the insecticide is only allowed to be used in commercial buildings, on crops, and in flea and tick pet collars.  It should be noted that propoxur was used in homes prior to being removed from the market in the 1990’s.

Laboratory testing has revealed that propoxur is quite effective at killing bed bugs.  According to testing done at the University of Kentucky, propoxur killed 100 percent of the bed bugs that it was exposed to within 24 hours.  Additionally, once the bed bug eggs hatched, the nymphs died too.  This is great news…perhaps we have a magic cure after all.  These results are far better than typical chemicals that are used in current bed bug treatments which have a 16% kill rate after 72 hours.

But the bad news is that the EPA said “NO” to Ohio’s request for an exemption to use the insecticide in June of 2010 because there are concerns about the dangers of nervous system effects in children who spend time in rooms that are treated with the pesticide.  Despite the rejection, on August 18, 2010, there was a gathering in Ohio to discuss the matter further.  In attendance were representatives from Ohio, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, pest control, and even the Department of Defense.  People were hopeful that a solution would be reached for those that suffer from bed bug infestations.  Sadly, federal officials offered little hope for the residents of Ohio…and therefore for the rest of the United States.   But the great news is that Fido and Fluffy won’t likely be bitten by bed bugs if they are wearing their flea collar!

Commissioner Thompson went on to say “I’ve been dealing with bed bugs all my life,” and then said. “All you have to do is clean your bedroom and clean your house.”  WOW!  Did he actually admit that HE has had bed bugs or was his answer just his opinion on how to deal with the creepy crawlers?

Commissioner Stanbery was right in her thoughts that a tracking system could help protect both landlords and potential tenants.  It’s in everyone’s best interest to make sure that a rental property is free of bed bugs prior to occupancy…no matter what state you live in!  Tenants would feel safer about where they were moving and landlords would be protected from potential bed bug related lawsuits.

It would be great to see a similar type of system put in place for hotels and motels as well.  That is unlikely to happen because when an infestation occurs, the stigma of having an infestation can, and usually does, cause a huge black eye for the hotel/motel in question.  The hospitality industry typically treats their bed bug infestations very quietly using a variety of treatment options.  Clearly, some do a far better job at treatment than others do.

The simple fact is that bed bugs are everyone’s problem.  Bed bugs are an equal opportunity offender.  They do not care your age, race, size, or socioeconomic status.  They only want to suck your blood…and they are relentless.  Regardless of where we live, if our government officials (county, state, and federal) continue to sweep the problem under the carpet, as they have been doing thus far, the problem will continue to worsen.  What will it take for people to realize that bed bugs will not go away until serious changes occur in the United States?

Bed bugs are a difficult pest to eradicate on your own.  If you are suffering from a bed bug infestation problem in New York or New Jersey, it is wise to contact a pest control specialist that is considered an expert in bed bug removal.

There was a recent meeting of the Bradley County Commission in Tennessee where one particular Commissioner brought a proposal to the table to curtail their rising bed bug problem.  Commissioner Lisa Stanbery stated that she had been contacted by a local non-profit organization which had informed her about the growing problem with bed bugs in their area.  She said that three families had been affected by bed bug infestations from their rental properties. 

Commissioner Stanbery asked if the Commissioners could put a tracking system in place so that the citizens of their county could obtain information about a rental property’s experience with bed bugs.  She was hoping that the tracking system could help protect citizens who were moving into new apartments, so that they would not have to deal with the blood sucking parasites.  Sounds good; and familiar too!

Although not mentioned, her proposal is not unlike the current legislation that is awaiting the sign of approval, or veto, from New York’s Governor David Paterson.  Since Governor Paterson recently vetoed the Mattress Sanitation legislation, it will be interesting to see what his decision is regarding this very important legislation.

Here’s the funny part of the story…

One of the other Commissioners was not too keen on the idea of the county being involved with bed bugs.  According to the Chattanoogan.com article, Commissioner Howard Thompson said “I think we ought to let everybody take care of their own mess,” and “all that is is nastiness.”

Please check back on Monday for the conclusion.

Jose Peralta (D-NY) has made a name for himself as a bed bug superhero crime fighter…or would been if the New York Governor would have signed his pending legislation into law.  On March 29, 2010, Peralta’s legislation could have amended the General Business Law to read:

“relates to articles of bedding; prohibits the transportation, storage or sale of used bedding with new bedding unless the used bedding has been sanitized using a specified method intended to kill bedbugs, molds, and other germs or contaminants; provides for annual inspection of places where articles of bedding are made.”

The legislation passed through the Senate on Jun 15, 2010 and was sent for approval to the Assembly.  The legislation passed the Assembly on June 15, 2010 as well.  Good news…but only briefly.

On July 19, 2010, Governor David Paterson received the pending legislation, while New Yorkers everywhere continued to scratch from their bed bug infestations.  The momentous day that everyone was waiting for arrived on July 30, 2010…a decision had been made.  Would New Yorkers new mattresses be saved from the blood sucking parasites or would they still be allowed to be infested?  Sorry New Yorkers, Governor Paterson decided to veto this important bill that would help end the spread of bed bugs to new mattresses!  It has been reported that the new bill would cost the state of New York an additional $600,000 and would require that eight employees be hired.  Game over.

There are two more bed bug related legislations pending on the Governors table.  One would require New York City schools to notify parents of bed bug infestations.  The other would require New York City landlords to inform potential tenants if they have had bed bug infestation problems within the past year. Both of these sound like smart ones too!

Time will tell if the powers that be in New York will find them worthy enough of implementation. Until then, if bed bugs are making you itch in Secaucus, New Jersey, the Greater New York City Metro and Connecticut Regions, contact Stern Environmental Group for expert bed bug removal services!

After months of anticipation, and endless hours of strategic planning, the new counterattack was revealed on the steps of City Hall last Wednesday.

Last year, the Bed Bug Advisory Board was formed by Mayor Bloomberg.  The Board’s purpose was to study the health concerns and make recommendations to the mayor and city council on the prevention and treatment of bed bug infestations in the city.  The Bed Bug Advisory Board was to deliver their report within nine months; and with eager anticipation, the 39 page report has finally arrived!

So here’s what New York City bed bugs have to look forward to in the near future….

• There will now be a team to coordinate bed bug control efforts in the city.

• A “Bed Bug Academy for building managers.

• An online portal of bed bug facts checked by the city.

• Guidelines/information for disposing of infested furniture and clothing, and educating the public about purchasing secondhand items.

• New York City Housing Court will give higher priority to cases that involve bed bugs.

The cost of implementing the program is said to be $500,000, which will be re-appropriated from the Department of Health’s budget.  According to the New York Times, Gil Bloom, one of the Board members, said “If fully implemented, the recommendations could reverse the current increase in bed bug activity and actually improve our situation.”  All of these bed bug programs are great, but the big question is…will they work?  Time will tell of course and everyone in the US is waiting to see the outcome of the New York bed bug problem!

If you are suffering from a bed bug infestation in New York City or New Jersey, don’t wait until these new programs are implemented before asking for help.  Call a bed bug expert for help today.

Then I read an article last night about the plastic baggie of live bed bugs there were found a few weeks ago at a Des Moines city building. The open baggie was found by custodians but not before the prickly pests had time to escape and run for cover in the Des Moines Armory which houses many public offices.  It is only now that they are finding out how bad the infestation is.

Officials believe that the bed bugs were left by someone who was seeking revenge against the city for some unknown reason.  Really, why else would a bag filled with live bed bugs be left in a building?

Forget chemical warfare, this is bed bug warfare!  The building has undergone fumigation services three times, but according to the bed bug sniffing dog and the employees itchy bites, the bed bugs refuse to die.  So far, the City of Des Moines has forked out $1,200 for fumigation costs.  Heat treatment for the building will cost the city an additional $5,000.  Without a doubt, employees have taken the blood suckers home with them as well.  Who assumes the cost for those bed bug infestations?  What a nightmare!

For protection, maybe I will just train my own dog to be a bed bug sniffing dog!