Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana hold tri-state “Emergency Meeting” about bed bugs

nobugsonme — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:25:34 +0000

The Kentucky Post and WCPO (ABC9 in Cincinnati) reported that there was an “Emergency Meeting” held behind closed doors last Friday to discuss the bed bug problem in the tri-state area of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. (Indiana was not mentioned by name in any of the articles, but we can assume it’s the third state in question since it borders Ohio and Kentucky near Cincinnati.)

WCPO noted that the meeting was hosted by Ohio State Representative Dale Mallory and that “state representatives, the Cincinnati Health Department commissioner along with several city councilmembers and county commissioners will try to find solutions” to the bed bug problem. Another source, kypost.com, said the meeting attendees also included Hamilton County (Kentucky) Coroner O’dell Owens. (The Coroner! If the coroner is involved, surely bed bugs must be a health concern? I see from the Hamilton County Coroner’s Organizational Flowchart that Toxicology is the likely interest here. Or perhaps Forensics: bed bugs are criminals–guilty of stealing our blood.)

Owens said, “In 2005 there were five to seven complaints on bed bugs. They’ve already had 19 the month of January. And last year I think they had 180. So this is an issue that is growing to cross neighborhoods. This is not just for poor people. Other people need to understand that bed bugs is not from people being unclean. You can have a home in Indian Hill and have bed bugs.”

There is no mention of whether local bed bug experts were involved, but I truly hope they were.

Bed bugs on increase in Ripley County, Indiana

nobugsonme — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:20:37 +0000

The Batesville Herald Tribune in Indiana reports that even that locality’s health officials are discussing the increase in local bed bug cases:

Bed bug cases “are increasing somewhat throughout the county,” reported Wayne Peace, Emergency Management Agency director, at the Jan. 8 Ripley County Health Department meeting. “I don’t know why there is an increase.”

Public health coordinator Pat Thomas stated after the meeting that Peace has referred people to a licensed pesticide exterminator to get rid of these pests.

Funny how less populous areas are tuned in to even “somewhat” of an increase. Hmm, an increase, not a “sudden appearance.” Is Peace saying that Batesville always had bed bugs?

Read the Batesville Herald Tribune piece here.

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Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana hold tri-state “Emergency Meeting” about bed bugs

Bed bugs on increase in Ripley County, Indiana