SPECIAL REPORT: Bed Bugs

Augusta, GA—Bed bugs: just the name makes you cringe.

Jennie Montgomery, reporting: “I didn’t know they were real…but I discovered the disgusting truth, 25 years ago, in a London hotel room. I wasn’t waking up every morning with an itcy, allergic reaction to something…instead, bed bugs had infested 4 guest rooms in a row!!“

They’re tiny, creepy, crawlies that live on human blood. They’re tiny, creepy, crawlies that live on human blood. Bed bugs can drink up to three times their weight! A true infestation can mean 500 bites…and folks, that’s in just one night.

Alison Trainer found that out the hard way…

Alison Trainer, bitten by bed bugs: “They were on, all over the bed and the comforter and the pillows, and I pulled the sheets off, and they were just everywhere.“

The “good” news is that most people have no serious reaction to the bites… and bed bugs don’t appear to transmit human disease. But, they’re multiplying…so fast, that the Environmental Protection Agency took notice. It recently convened its first-ever two day summit to figure out how to best this pest. ABC News’ Yunji de Nies was there and she has this report:

Michael Potter, professor of entomology: “This is gonna be one tough bug to deal with.“

Professor Michael Potter says the resurgence is global…and the bugs are winning.

Prof. Potter: “You’ve got this cryptic blood sucking parasite. It bites people at night, while they’re sleeping. Our aresnal of effective bed bug control tools is dangerously depleted.“

Prof. Potter says that’s because bed bugs have developed resistance to most pesticides.

Yunji de Nies, reporting: “You tend to think of bed bugs as pests that live in hotel rooms, but public health officials say they’re seeing them just about everywhere people go: schools, hospitals, nursing homes, even airplanes and movie theaters.“

They’ve even been spotted in New York City subways. It’s hard to know just how widespread the problem is, because most cases go unreported. The National Pest Management Control Association says they’ve seen a 71 percent increase in bed bug-related calls. Once you’ve got them, they’re hard to get rid of.

Greg Baumann, Vice President, senior scientist, National Pest Management Control Association: “They can live up to a year without feeding, just waiting for us to come back,  and once they have the opportunity, they will feed.“

Many people pick them up on the road. When traveling…check the mattress seams. And when you get home, inspect your luggage, and wash all of your clothes, even those you didn’t wear. a little extra work…so you can sleep tight.

Researchers say infestations in North America started in hotels…but now they’re spreading into low-income housing.

Harvard researchers say the best ways to prevent an invasion are to reduce clutter, use a mattress cover, and if you think you already have them, call your pest control company.