Comments on: Bed bugs invade New York City Department of Health offices

By: Winston O. Buggy

Winston O. Buggy — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:45:47 +0000

Yes if they are at the health department in city speak they are a “health problem” but not a public health issue LOL. And bugbuster that is quite unfortunate, lets hope the BBAB will result in avoiding that type of misinformation issue in the future. I originally inspected the DOH TB unit in 07 and the source was one employee who had brought them in from home. They treated over the weekend and had the employee get the home treated. They also had to reduce the clutter condition around the employees cubicle as it had grown over the years. Inspection, early treatment of both sites and clutter reduction resolved the issue. I wonder if it is the same person, as it is the same unit. I still remember finding it ironic putting the taped samples in DOH envelopes.

By: nobugsonme

nobugsonme — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:11:17 +0000

@Parakeets, you hit it home, as usual. @bugbuster -- Yikes! Sounds like you had something similar to one of these "educational seminars," though those were run by the Housing and Preservation Department. We heard the bed bug seminar road show was taken to a number of courthouses. Would be interested in your school if you could tell us.

By: bugbuster

bugbuster — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:35:10 +0000

A Department of Health representative came to our school last year when we were having a problem. After announcing that they’re not considered a “health” problem, she went on to display her ignorance by conveying all manner of incorrect information – which I had no compunction about correcting, in front of all assembled, at every turn.

Somehow, this doesn’t surprise me one bit.

By: parakeets

parakeets — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:29:09 +0000

People are always saying bed bugs are “not a health problem.” Well, if bed bugs are in the Department of Health, they finally ARE a health problem!

If “it’s fairly common to have a couple of bedbugs brought in by an individual–It’s not an infestation” as department spokeswoman Jessica Scaperotti says …. then, wow, what are they doing so they are so sure that bedbugs brought in by individuals are NOT becoming infestations? (And, duh, hasn’t that happened twice already?) Maybe they should tell OSHA how they are avoiding bedbug infestations when individuals bring them in. We’d all like to know and who can better advise us than the Department of Health!

Notice the spin where the article subtly hints that it’s the lower level workers who are upset by this in the quote: “They told us we were crazy,” the worker said, referring to higher-ups. “I said, ‘I know what I saw. I’m not crazy.’ ” The media keeps blaming or categorizing the bed bug victim in certain ways that might make certain other groups feel they are somewhat immune or safe from getting bed bugs. Where is the warning that we can all get bedbugs, even the “higher ups”?

I’d like to tell Ms. Scarperotti that even though she is sure it isn’t an “infestation,” if individuals have brought bedbugs into where she works, she could be at risk for bringing bedbugs home with her. Of course then it won’t be an “infestation” in her home/apartment/condo if she “brings a few bedbugs in” so I know she and her neighbors don’t have to worry that she works in an office with bedbugs. After all, it’s just a few bedbugs, not an infestation.

A few bedbugs? If you see a few bedbugs, you problably have many, many more hidden and even if it is only a “few bedbugs”–you can have 6000 in a few months.