Comments on: Harrisburg’s Channel 21 News: afraid to say “bed bugs”?

By: nobugsonme

nobugsonme — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:01:44 +0000

Janice, since this article was about what was technically a “hotel” (though structured like single-occupancy apartments), it is unclear whether landlords pay for treatment in Harrisburg.

Your best bet would be to call the Health Dept., since they took an interest in this case, they may be able to advise you on your rights and they may also wish to follow up.

Tenants’ advice organizations are a good place to ask for help. The main public library reference desk librarians should also be able to help you find out the laws concerning tenants in your town.

Good luck!

By: Janice

Janice — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 04:16:37 +0000

I just found a bed bug in my bed. As sick as I was I got on my computer to comfirm. And it is!! So now I have questions. I live in the Harrisburg area so if anyone can help. Are the landlores responsable of getting rid of these bugs? If you know, send to my e-mail address: jquinones1973@yahoo.com

By: More on bed bugs in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: again with the HAZMAT showers?!? : Got bed bugs? Bedbugger.com

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:39:59 +0000

[...] the Tara Station Bar in Harrisburg was found to be infested — apparently by bed bugs — but in the two stories covering the case, WHPTV (CBS Channel 21) reporters refused to say the phrase…, referring instead to “bugs” and [...]

By: nobugsonme

nobugsonme — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:00:43 +0000

Hi ‘Keets,

Thanks for your message.

I too wondered if they were afraid of legal implications of saying “that’s a bed bug.”

I hope not, though. If we cannot name the problem, we have no hope of fixing it…

By: parakeets

parakeets — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:21:43 +0000

Something similar happened to me. I once presented a 45 minute workshop about my story with bedbugs to a group I belong to. They directors me my workshop title in part from “Bedbugs, My Story” to “Insects, My Story.” Do people think they can catch bedbugs from the word itself?

In this case, I wonder if there is a real estate connection who is telling the news media “You have no proof this is bedbugs, only your guess. Until you have proof it is bedbugs, if you say it is bedbugs, we’ll sue you for lowering the value of our property.” In some cities, real estate interests are protecting themselves from the bedbug issue by keeping the word bedbug out of the news media.

I live in Boston and did a search on the words “bed bugs” and “bedbug” in our two large newspapers here. Even though bedbugs are increasing at an alarming rate in this city of many college students and many tourists, there is almost a total lack of any references to bedbugs, and when they do mention them, they deliberately (I think) connect them to poor areas of the city and public housing. In one year there was just one short mention of a conference about bedbugs.