Monday, August 9, 2010

Bed Bugs Return To L.A. County

Bed Bugs Return To L.A. County

CDC says commercial pesticides do not work.

Bed Bugs Return To L.A. County
LOS ANGELES -- L.A. County Health officials, federal health officials and pest control experts say a bed bug infestation has returned to L.A. County.

Both apartment dwellers and homeowners report being attacked by the blood sucking parasites.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, a bed bug outbreak earlier this year was thought to have been under control.

However, pest control workers report a ten-fold increase in bed bug calls.

The CDC recommends heat treatment, vacuuming, sealing cracks and crevices to eliminate hiding places and the use of non-chemical pesticides (diatomaceous earth) to control bed bug populations.

The CDC also says that bed bugs are resistant to most commercials pesticides.

Bed bugs are tiny parasites -- about a 1/4" long -- that feed on human blood.

They usually attack in the evening while people are sleeping.

The insects usually hide in tiny cracks, crevices or any small space.

The CDC says they can also survive several months between feedings. Bed bugs don't discriminate either, hitting the poor and wealthy alike.

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