Comments on: Newark tenants suffer health problems — possibly related to bed bugs, fleas, mice, or pest control treatment http://bedbugger.com/2008/07/23/newark-tenants-suffer-health-problems-possibly-related-to-bed-bugs-fleas-mice-or-pest-control-treatment/ bed bug news, information, activism, and support Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:12:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: nobugsonme http://bedbugger.com/2008/07/23/newark-tenants-suffer-health-problems-possibly-related-to-bed-bugs-fleas-mice-or-pest-control-treatment/#comment-10855 nobugsonme Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:23:31 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/?p=1080#comment-10855 Doug-- a chemical reaction seems probable. parakeets-- you're right! Unfortunately, also, the latest article mentioning the condition of the building, the alleged presence of bottles of urine in the hallway and overflowing trashcans -- all of this serves to detract from the bed bug issue. We have to keep telling reporters what having bed bugs is like, how draining it is of time, finances, energy. How much moreso for those who are old, infirm, disabled, or who lack funds to pay for the basic necessities. Doug– a chemical reaction seems probable.

parakeets– you’re right!

Unfortunately, also, the latest article mentioning the condition of the building, the alleged presence of bottles of urine in the hallway and overflowing trashcans — all of this serves to detract from the bed bug issue.

We have to keep telling reporters what having bed bugs is like, how draining it is of time, finances, energy. How much moreso for those who are old, infirm, disabled, or who lack funds to pay for the basic necessities.

]]> By: parakeets http://bedbugger.com/2008/07/23/newark-tenants-suffer-health-problems-possibly-related-to-bed-bugs-fleas-mice-or-pest-control-treatment/#comment-10854 parakeets Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:33:40 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/?p=1080#comment-10854 I often thought if the true horror of just having bedbugs were accurately reported -- eg., "50 tenants in a senior center in San Diego are all reporting red marks on their skin, blood spots on their pillows, itchy swelling, being unable to sleep, anxiety, sores that do not easily heal, skin infections, waking up with new marks on their body, allergic reactions" -- the press could be all over it. What is this outbreak? What is this outrage? How could so many people be experiencing such symptoms at the same time? Why isn't it going away? But once they say it's bedbugs, everyone turns away and ignores what people are going through. I agree with Doug that this case in Newark could be chemical exposure, but the horror of bedbugs alone is often ignored by newspapers. If this case is found to be "simply" caused by bedbugs and fleas, it will be dropped. However, if it is from some chemical exposure, it will be heralded and enviornmental exposes will be written and it won't be ignored. I often thought if the true horror of just having bedbugs were accurately reported — eg., “50 tenants in a senior center in San Diego are all reporting red marks on their skin, blood spots on their pillows, itchy swelling, being unable to sleep, anxiety, sores that do not easily heal, skin infections, waking up with new marks on their body, allergic reactions” — the press could be all over it. What is this outbreak? What is this outrage? How could so many people be experiencing such symptoms at the same time? Why isn’t it going away? But once they say it’s bedbugs, everyone turns away and ignores what people are going through.

I agree with Doug that this case in Newark could be chemical exposure, but the horror of bedbugs alone is often ignored by newspapers. If this case is found to be “simply” caused by bedbugs and fleas, it will be dropped. However, if it is from some chemical exposure, it will be heralded and enviornmental exposes will be written and it won’t be ignored.

]]> By: Doug Summers MS http://bedbugger.com/2008/07/23/newark-tenants-suffer-health-problems-possibly-related-to-bed-bugs-fleas-mice-or-pest-control-treatment/#comment-10853 Doug Summers MS Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:21:54 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/?p=1080#comment-10853 My top suspicion would be chemical exposure based on the information in the story & the picture. Never seen that type of severe reaction to the pests that were mentioned or mold with a sudden onset of symptoms across a group of people from different households in the same building. My top suspicion would be chemical exposure based on the information in the story & the picture.

Never seen that type of severe reaction to the pests that were mentioned or mold with a sudden onset of symptoms across a group of people from different households in the same building.

]]> By: nobugsonme http://bedbugger.com/2008/07/23/newark-tenants-suffer-health-problems-possibly-related-to-bed-bugs-fleas-mice-or-pest-control-treatment/#comment-10850 nobugsonme Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:45:45 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/?p=1080#comment-10850 I agree, it looks like an allergy. But to what? Bed bugs? Fleas? Mice? Pesticides? Mold? And if it is an allergy, it seems unusual for 38 people to have similar reactions. I agree, it looks like an allergy. But to what? Bed bugs? Fleas? Mice? Pesticides? Mold?

And if it is an allergy, it seems unusual for 38 people to have similar reactions.

]]> By: Doug Summers MS http://bedbugger.com/2008/07/23/newark-tenants-suffer-health-problems-possibly-related-to-bed-bugs-fleas-mice-or-pest-control-treatment/#comment-10848 Doug Summers MS Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:58:37 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/?p=1080#comment-10848 The child in the picture with the story is showing clear signs of a serious allergic reaction. The face is badly swollen. The child in the picture with the story is showing clear signs of a serious allergic reaction. The face is badly swollen.

]]> By: nobugsonme http://bedbugger.com/2008/07/23/newark-tenants-suffer-health-problems-possibly-related-to-bed-bugs-fleas-mice-or-pest-control-treatment/#comment-10846 nobugsonme Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:40:12 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/?p=1080#comment-10846 And now, <a href="http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/07/manager_of_unsanitary_newark_b.html" rel="nofollow">the landlord is blaming the tenants</a> for living in a messy environment. Apparently he wrote them a letter on July 8th telling them to clean up their acts. This would possibly explain the mice, but bed bugs do not come to live with you because you're a slob. Also, landlord Robert Lippman claims that he did not know about the bed bugs. It isn't clear if the tenants had identified them and/or reported them to the landlord before the health problems broke out or not. On the other hand, reporting bed bugs to the landlord requires one to first identify that they have bed bugs, not always an easy task. <blockquote>Lippman, who was away on vacation, said today in a phone interview that he brings in an exterminator every month to spray for roaches and mice. He said he was unaware that residents were having problems with fleas and bedbugs. "Is there a mouse in the place? I'm sure. It's a building and it's dirty," he said. "I'm not going to know if there are fleas unless they tell me." </blockquote> I still want to know what caused the health problems; I hope this question does not get buried under parties trying to assign blame. And now, the landlord is blaming the tenants for living in a messy environment. Apparently he wrote them a letter on July 8th telling them to clean up their acts.

This would possibly explain the mice, but bed bugs do not come to live with you because you’re a slob.

Also, landlord Robert Lippman claims that he did not know about the bed bugs. It isn’t clear if the tenants had identified them and/or reported them to the landlord before the health problems broke out or not. On the other hand, reporting bed bugs to the landlord requires one to first identify that they have bed bugs, not always an easy task.

Lippman, who was away on vacation, said today in a phone interview that he brings in an exterminator every month to spray for roaches and mice. He said he was unaware that residents were having problems with fleas and bedbugs.

“Is there a mouse in the place? I’m sure. It’s a building and it’s dirty,” he said. “I’m not going to know if there are fleas unless they tell me.”

I still want to know what caused the health problems; I hope this question does not get buried under parties trying to assign blame.

]]> By: nobugsonme http://bedbugger.com/2008/07/23/newark-tenants-suffer-health-problems-possibly-related-to-bed-bugs-fleas-mice-or-pest-control-treatment/#comment-10843 nobugsonme Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:33:56 +0000 http://bedbugger.com/?p=1080#comment-10843 After another day of testing, <a href="http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/essex/index.ssf?/base/news-5/1216874192106220.xml&coll=1&thispage=2" rel="nofollow">the report in the Star-Ledger this morning</a> was that officials still don't know what caused these health problems that caused so many to go to the hospital Tuesday. They brought in an exterminator yesterday to treat "for fleas and bedbugs", implying officials think those pests may have been the cause. After another day of testing, the report in the Star-Ledger this morning was that officials still don’t know what caused these health problems that caused so many to go to the hospital Tuesday.

They brought in an exterminator yesterday to treat “for fleas and bedbugs”, implying officials think those pests may have been the cause.

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