Comments on: And another ray of hope from Vancouver’s VANDU http://bedbugger.com/2007/07/15/vandu/ bed bug news, information, activism, and support Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:36:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Peter http://bedbugger.com/2007/07/15/vandu/#comment-8666 Peter Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:23:02 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/2007/07/15/vandu/#comment-8666 watched the CTV news last night only to see in horror, the problem of bedbugs in the city of Vancouver. What particularly dismayed me, was that the city seems to care less about the problem and does not see it as a health issue. I am a newcomer to Vancouver, and am considering buying property. Now I am reconsidering. It worries me that the city health sees no problems with its residents living with vermon, including bedbugs. It baffles me, that with the Olympics coming, no one seems to care that the visitors to this city may actually walk away with more than just memories of the Games, but also some nice welts and perhaps bedbugs that they will bring home with them and infest their cities! Is no one concerned with this? I just did not know how bad it was in the city! It seems to be everywhere, and spreading. I noticed downtown and in the Westend, they are everywhere. Makes me wonder how many condos have this problem. I noticed none have been reported, but I find it hard to believe as many condo/stratas allow rentals. I would be curious to know if any of those buildings are plagued. watched the CTV news last night only to see in horror, the problem of bedbugs in the city of Vancouver. What particularly dismayed me, was that the city seems to care less about the problem and does not see it as a health issue. I am a newcomer to Vancouver, and am considering buying property. Now I am reconsidering. It worries me that the city health sees no problems with its residents living with vermon, including bedbugs. It baffles me, that with the Olympics coming, no one seems to care that the visitors to this city may actually walk away with more than just memories of the Games, but also some nice welts and perhaps bedbugs that they will bring home with them and infest their cities! Is no one concerned with this? I just did not know how bad it was in the city! It seems to be everywhere, and spreading. I noticed downtown and in the Westend, they are everywhere. Makes me wonder how many condos have this problem. I noticed none have been reported, but I find it hard to believe as many condo/stratas allow rentals. I would be curious to know if any of those buildings are plagued.

]]> By: Itchy the Bed Bug: an Olympic Mascot for Vancouver http://bedbugger.com/2007/07/15/vandu/#comment-8321 Itchy the Bed Bug: an Olympic Mascot for Vancouver Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:44:12 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/2007/07/15/vandu/#comment-8321 [...] Remember VANDU?  They’re the grassroots community group that got a grant and implemented a plan to help fight bed bugs in Vancouver’s beleaguered Downtown Eastside. [...] [...] Remember VANDU?  They’re the grassroots community group that got a grant and implemented a plan to help fight bed bugs in Vancouver’s beleaguered Downtown Eastside. [...]

]]> By: Bugalina http://bedbugger.com/2007/07/15/vandu/#comment-4597 Bugalina Tue, 17 Jul 2007 01:54:50 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/2007/07/15/vandu/#comment-4597 Maybe another thing that the government is counting on , in order to keep this bug epidemic from "going public' is Shame....So much shame is associated with bed bugs that people don't tell others that they are "infested"...In a week and a half I have seen two box spring and mattresss sets discarded on the curbs..and today two perfectly good conditioned boxsprings on a curb...with about 10 black plastic bags tied up..So that's three different houses...in a very nice suburban neighborhood on Long Island....No one would DARE to write bed bugs on them...but when I see only mattresses on the curb...it sends a chill up my spine...So shame is keeping people quiet...I know it kept me very quiet for over a year...its just recently I am able to talk about it with people in my neighborhood...and still, they think it could never happen to them...but after I clue them in...they start to say...Geez.. Lately I have seen a lot of mattresses thrown out...And I say...That's right...no one is talking about it....they keep it to themselves....Its so insane...Get true statistics from PCOS...that's what we need.. Maybe another thing that the government is counting on , in order to keep this bug epidemic from “going public’ is Shame….So much shame is associated with bed bugs that people don’t tell others that they are “infested”…In a week and a half I have seen two box spring and mattresss sets discarded on the curbs..and today two perfectly good conditioned boxsprings on a curb…with about 10 black plastic bags tied up..So that’s three different houses…in a very nice suburban neighborhood on Long Island….No one would DARE to write bed bugs on them…but when I see only mattresses on the curb…it sends a chill up my spine…So shame is keeping people quiet…I know it kept me very quiet for over a year…its just recently I am able to talk about it with people in my neighborhood…and still, they think it could never happen to them…but after I clue them in…they start to say…Geez.. Lately I have seen a lot of mattresses thrown out…And I say…That’s right…no one is talking about it….they keep it to themselves….Its so insane…Get true statistics from PCOS…that’s what we need..

]]> By: nobugsonme http://bedbugger.com/2007/07/15/vandu/#comment-4595 nobugsonme Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:23:54 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/2007/07/15/vandu/#comment-4595 Well, there was once a solution that worked for many decades. I am hopeful scientists will come up with something that works. In the meantime, the rowboats are sinking. It's not that VANDU is going to totally eradicate bed bugs from the DTES. But they have to keep bailing out the water. Right now, in such a situation, it's a matter of holding bed bugs at bay, rather than eliminating them permanently... Well, there was once a solution that worked for many decades. I am hopeful scientists will come up with something that works.

In the meantime, the rowboats are sinking. It’s not that VANDU is going to totally eradicate bed bugs from the DTES. But they have to keep bailing out the water.

Right now, in such a situation, it’s a matter of holding bed bugs at bay, rather than eliminating them permanently…

]]> By: parakeets http://bedbugger.com/2007/07/15/vandu/#comment-4594 parakeets Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:55:46 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/2007/07/15/vandu/#comment-4594 The words "massive outbreak of bedbugs" scare me since I don't know any municipality that has money to fight a massive outbreak of anything, let alone a massive outbreak of a bug that doesn't cause deaths. Even if they totally eradicated the bedbugs in one complex in Vancouver (a miracle in itself and I hope they succeed), how many times in a 5 or 10 year period would they have to re-do the same treatment? How many other complexes would they have to treat? Where would the money for subsequent treatments come from? Where do these people with bedbugs live while their rooms are being "gutted"? Who's to say all these people won't just simply spread bedbugs even further by moving out while their places are being treated? I am getting increasingly discouraged. It only will get worse. We will move to an economy where only people in single-family houses will be able to feel a modicum of safety from bedbugs, and then only if they don't encounter bedbugs outside their homes and bring them back in. Fear of hotels, fear of college dorms, fear of padded movie and plane seats, fear of buying furniture--oh, the economy will feel it for sure. I think part of the reason the message on bedbugs is not being spread appropriately is because there is financial interest in not letting people know the powerful financial impact it will have. There's a lot of wishing and hoping that scientists can come up with a way to control bedbugs before Bedbug Day, but since people are dying of mosquito bites, even this summer, and roaches and fruitflies are still very much in evidence no matter how much money is consistently poured into treating them, I don't see entomologists coming up with a bedbug solution quickly. Bedbugs are here. I'm saving for a single-family house, maybe as small as those new mini-post-Katrina doll houses. The words “massive outbreak of bedbugs” scare me since I don’t know any municipality that has money to fight a massive outbreak of anything, let alone a massive outbreak of a bug that doesn’t cause deaths. Even if they totally eradicated the bedbugs in one complex in Vancouver (a miracle in itself and I hope they succeed), how many times in a 5 or 10 year period would they have to re-do the same treatment? How many other complexes would they have to treat? Where would the money for subsequent treatments come from? Where do these people with bedbugs live while their rooms are being “gutted”? Who’s to say all these people won’t just simply spread bedbugs even further by moving out while their places are being treated?

I am getting increasingly discouraged. It only will get worse. We will move to an economy where only people in single-family houses will be able to feel a modicum of safety from bedbugs, and then only if they don’t encounter bedbugs outside their homes and bring them back in. Fear of hotels, fear of college dorms, fear of padded movie and plane seats, fear of buying furniture–oh, the economy will feel it for sure. I think part of the reason the message on bedbugs is not being spread appropriately is because there is financial interest in not letting people know the powerful financial impact it will have. There’s a lot of wishing and hoping that scientists can come up with a way to control bedbugs before Bedbug Day, but since people are dying of mosquito bites, even this summer, and roaches and fruitflies are still very much in evidence no matter how much money is consistently poured into treating them, I don’t see entomologists coming up with a bedbug solution quickly. Bedbugs are here. I’m saving for a single-family house, maybe as small as those new mini-post-Katrina doll houses.

]]> By: Bugalina http://bedbugger.com/2007/07/15/vandu/#comment-4572 Bugalina Mon, 16 Jul 2007 00:53:48 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/2007/07/15/vandu/#comment-4572 Absolutely nobugs...but the most worrisome of all are those who don't take any actions...and I am afraid that there are a lot out there who don't.. Those people don't come here for help...This is an unknown factor..What I am trying to say is that bed bugs are unlike any insect we've had to deal with before... if I have bed bugs and I live in close proximity to others who do nothing...I will be in a constant state of "treating"....This is a terrible thought for people who live in multiple family dwellings...Its a real problem...that must be addressed by government...I am trying to point out how serious this is...If Vancouver doesn't step up to the plate and take control, they are dealing with a population on the Eastside that exists of many who won't seek treatment..this poses a risk to all others...that's the point I am trying to make.. Absolutely nobugs…but the most worrisome of all are those who don’t take any actions…and I am afraid that there are a lot out there who don’t.. Those people don’t come here for help…This is an unknown factor..What I am trying to say is that bed bugs are unlike any insect we’ve had to deal with before… if I have bed bugs and I live in close proximity to others who do nothing…I will be in a constant state of “treating”….This is a terrible thought for people who live in multiple family dwellings…Its a real problem…that must be addressed by government…I am trying to point out how serious this is…If Vancouver doesn’t step up to the plate and take control, they are dealing with a population on the Eastside that exists of many who won’t seek treatment..this poses a risk to all others…that’s the point I am trying to make..

]]> By: nobugsonme http://bedbugger.com/2007/07/15/vandu/#comment-4571 nobugsonme Mon, 16 Jul 2007 00:37:17 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/2007/07/15/vandu/#comment-4571 It's not just about people who "ignore" their infestations, though. Some people would desperately like to fight their infestations and cannot afford to. Many are likely infested and have no idea. Experts have said as many as 70% may not be allergic, and may not notice the bites. So if they are not alerted to the presence of bed bugs, which can get very bad before you see them, they may have no idea, and no warning that they need to treat. It’s not just about people who “ignore” their infestations, though.

Some people would desperately like to fight their infestations and cannot afford to.

Many are likely infested and have no idea. Experts have said as many as 70% may not be allergic, and may not notice the bites. So if they are not alerted to the presence of bed bugs, which can get very bad before you see them, they may have no idea, and no warning that they need to treat.

]]> By: Bugalina http://bedbugger.com/2007/07/15/vandu/#comment-4561 Bugalina Sun, 15 Jul 2007 15:12:00 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/2007/07/15/vandu/#comment-4561 The way I see it, is that Bed Bugs are a National Problem...The government owes us a solution..by not coming up with one they are a major contributor to the problem. The cost of our extermination and all the necessary purchases and the move, drained my savings acct..by thousands of dollars. Ok you might say, that's her problem. But Because Bed bugs, unlike any other insect, "commute" from one infested area to another, So that even the most responsible of persons can find themselves dealing with infestation over and over, becomes (imo) a societal problem. I don't care how others live or keep their homes, that's their business, but if someone ignores their infestation, and the bugs start to commute into my apt. or condo, etc. That's when we have a problem on our hands. If I go to work and have a desk next to a person who isn't addressing their infestation, this becomes a societal problem. If my luggage is stored in a cargo area next to infested luggage, this is a problem. If I pay hard earned money to stay in a hotel and bugs get into my belongings and follow me home, this becomes a major issue of why I should suffer because the hotel either was in neglect or they don't have any true solutions to kill the bugs off, for good. Vancouver has a gun to their heads because of the 2010 Olympics. By remaining silent, the US Government is a major contributer to the out of control spread of bed bugs. This IS a serious health issue for every socio-economic class. The way I see it, is that Bed Bugs are a National Problem…The government owes us a solution..by not coming up with one they are a major contributor to the problem. The cost of our extermination and all the necessary purchases and the move, drained my savings acct..by thousands of dollars. Ok you might say, that’s her problem. But Because Bed bugs, unlike any other insect, “commute” from one infested area to another, So that even the most responsible of persons can find themselves dealing with infestation over and over, becomes (imo) a societal problem. I don’t care how others live or keep their homes, that’s their business, but if someone ignores their infestation, and the bugs start to commute into my apt. or condo, etc. That’s when we have a problem on our hands. If I go to work and have a desk next to a person who isn’t addressing their infestation, this becomes a societal problem. If my luggage is stored in a cargo area next to infested luggage, this is a problem. If I pay hard earned money to stay in a hotel and bugs get into my belongings and follow me home, this becomes a major issue of why I should suffer because the hotel either was in neglect or they don’t have any true solutions to kill the bugs off, for good. Vancouver has a gun to their heads because of the 2010 Olympics. By remaining silent, the US Government is a major contributer to the out of control spread of bed bugs. This IS a serious health issue for every socio-economic class.

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