What happens when every person in New York (and elsewhere) has bedbugs?

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What happens when every person in New York (and elsewhere) has bedbugs?

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nyc apartment tenant

LEStenant

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Posted 5 years ago
Wed Oct 31 2007 21:25:30
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I guess that's more of a rhetorical question. But, seriously, the situation in New York is totally out of hand. I brought home bedbugs when I lived in Brooklyn. Couldn't get rid of them, so I moved and said, "Thank god I'll never have to deal with that again." A few months later, I learn my new building is crawling with them (not thanks to me, I'm pretty sure).

I've read all the FAQs, I know everything there is to know about bedbugs. It feels like I've done the bagging/washing/spraying routine a thousand times. They go away, but neighbors on all sides of me aren't so cooperative. The exterminator says they won't even let him in. There are brand new mattresses on the curb in front of every building I pass. I want to move again, but there will probably be bugs in the new place. Everyone I know has had them!

Are bedbugs like, The Way We Live Now? Does anyone feel like this whole thing is a lost cause?
nyjammin

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Posted 5 years ago
Wed Oct 31 2007 22:17:38
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Hey, LEStenant. There are still some neighborhoods and places here in NY State that are still unaffected by bbs. In other words, it's verrrrrrry rare. I won't mention places 'cause then everyone would head for those neighborhoods. There are even some neighborhoods in the boroughs not affected yet. I'm the only person I know that has them. Everyone else does not. Not my neighbors, not my family members, no one. There are many, many people who have/had bbs, and there are a whole lot more who do not. I still know people who do not know what bbs are or what disruption they can cause. Even if you explain it to them, they still don't get it. They just wanna go back to their bb free lives in their bb free neighborhoods. Wouldn't you?

This is the silent epidemic. People actually hafta go onto the internet (thanks NBOM!) for information instead of being educated by our politicians who frankly I believe do not give a sh.t!

I read many a story where people found out about bbs by strange bites, followed by strange bugs or signs like blood spots, etc. These people say "I've never even heard of a bb and I didn't know what a bb was." There is no education and no public awareness on this issue. We are a club all our own. A club no one wants any part of. There may be a bedbug story in the news like once every 3 months, if even that many. And sometimes the story is joked about. These people have no clue!

There was a woman on the blog who is from Kentucky stating that she works for a government building and one of her co-workers was infested and the bugs were falling off of her. This is the way some people are going to live; not by choice. So sad for these people.

I'm afraid it's just going to get worse, not better. Then something will be done, but then I think it will be too late unless there comes some sorta "magic bullet", we are in for a spiral downfall.

So, that's my take on it all.
mrbill0626

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Posted 5 years ago
Wed Oct 31 2007 23:21:25
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Folks, let me just say this: We are bigger than this thing. These are just little bugs, low-life forms and we are thinking, intelligent, limitless beings, the highest life form on Earth. So, we can beat this, and we will. It's just a matter of time. If they can rocket astronauts into space and build a space station and study the planets and stars, we can solve this too. Right?

Bill
Nobugsonme

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Posted 5 years ago
Wed Oct 31 2007 23:27:26
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LEStenant,

Sorry you had this experience.

I actually think the problem will become more widespread.

And then I think it will help make things better. Because we really need public education campaigns (so the ignorance your neighbors and landlord are displaying will stop) and public assistance (so people won't resist treatment on the basis of cost).
Both of these things are beginning to happen, slowly, in some places, on a limited basis. It gives me a lot of hope.

But I do not doubt it won't get a heck of a lot worse before it gets better.

Most people here who move don't seem to be moving into infested buildings, from what I gather. But then most people here probably don't move, because it is so easy to move bed bugs.

I hope you add your new and old addresses to the 2 bed bug registries (in the sidebar links on the blog), so others may be warned.
bugsbite

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Posted 5 years ago
Thu Nov 1 2007 8:57:56
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NoBugsOnMe said "and public assistance (so people won't resist treatment on the basis of cost)."

That will have to be a big one, because there are many people who simply could not afford any kind of treatment. All the recommendations in the world for this kind of PCO and that kind of plastic storage bag and this kind of HEPAwhatever vacuum and such won't do any good for someone who doesn't even have $20 left after they pay their rent and buy their groceries.
parakeets

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Posted 5 years ago
Thu Nov 1 2007 18:13:30
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Nyjammin raised a lot of good major points:
1) Even in a heavly infested borough of an infested city, not everybody has bedbugs yet--or even wants to hear about them;
2) that bedbugs are a silent epidemic and except for the Internet (again, thanks for this blog and other bedbug sites) we would almost never hear about the problem;
3) Politicians are blatantly ignoring the problem;
4) There is an incredible need for bedbug education since people who get bedbugs often don't even know what they are(that happened to me and I'm intelligent, well-read, and in a city area that has had a bedbug problem for years);
5) bedbugs are still a joke to many people; and
6) the bedbug problem will get worse before it gets better.

Why haven't we seen editorials about this? Until they come out with better pesticides, of which none are on the forseeable horizon according to entomologist I've heard lecture, we are simply stuck with our current catch-as-catch-can methods(alas, "catch as catch CAN'T" for some bedbugs). When the pheromone traps come out hopefully next year there will be more awareness, more proof, and more lawsuits--but the bedbug situation (except for more people screaming about it) won't change overall.

Thanks, Nyjammin, for summarizing the "State-of-the bedbug." (Wouldn't it be great if bedbugs were mentioned in the State of the Union address? Or by Presidential candidates?)
jimmypop2008

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Posted 5 years ago
Fri Nov 2 2007 11:32:06
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There are more people out there that have the problem that just are afraid to talk about it. I live in NY and was just at a conference outside of NY. I stayed at a nice hotel and did my now standard seemingly neurotic process of doing a thorough inspection before taking anything out of my hands. I then place all my stuff in large ziploc bags which remain on the desk. I was out drinking with someone from the conference so I mentioned to someone what I do, and he said, you aren't crazy. I got bedbugs 4 years ago staying at a hotel and I do that all the time. I then decided to share what I do with others. I will admit they thought I was wierd, but I did tell them that at the very least, they absolutely need to make sure never to put their bags on the floor or bed. Anyways, the point is there are many people out there.
pleasehelp

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Posted 5 years ago
Fri Nov 2 2007 12:11:03
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jimmy, how do you inspect with your luggage in your hands??? is it safe to place it on a suitcase stand?
jimmypop2008

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Posted 5 years ago
Fri Nov 2 2007 17:20:38
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I have shoulder straps. The suitcase stand in this place was made of cloth so I was worried things may be hiding in there. I actualy put it on the granite counter right outside the bathroom. It has metal legs which would be hard to climb on. I just wouldn't put it on anything that i think they can climb on. If the luggage stand was metal and not cloth, then I would put it there.
LEStenant

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Posted 5 years ago
Fri Nov 2 2007 23:05:55
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jimmypop, your "seemingly neurotic process" is exactly what I'm talking about. The whole bedbug epidemic is just so defeating! You can do everything right, spend hours and hours of your life ridding yourself of these things, and for what? So they can sneak right back in from your neighbor's place? So you can pick them up again at some hotel? Bring them home from work? It's like the only sure thing is to walk around in a plastic bubble.

Sorry for all the gloom and doom, but faced with yet another round of washing five tons of clothes and living out of plastic bags is just really depressing, as I'm sure everyone here can attest to.
nomorebugs

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Posted 5 years ago
Sat Nov 3 2007 0:40:07
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Did I say this already? I've been surfing this subject so much, it helps me trying to pass on what seems to be valid scientific information. Anyway there are two people in the developed world:

1. Those who had to deal with bed bugs
2. Those who haven't

It's human nature to brush aside something you've not experienced first hand. But some cities are impacted so much, it'll make people aware and more scientific effort on it's control. Seem Cincinnati and NYC are at the forefront.
Nobugsonme

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Posted 5 years ago
Sat Nov 3 2007 3:42:37
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But NYC is doing almost NOTHING, nomore. Cincinnati is at least taking a stab at doing something. Even if it is not enough yet.
nyjammin

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Posted 5 years ago
Sat Nov 3 2007 8:53:33
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I'm not advertising here and Nobugs, you KNOW I do not work for any company that treats bbs, but I just heard from a certain company that does vikane treatment that they were asked to help out in Cincinnati. Seems like Cincinnati is on the right track.
BklynBedbugHater

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Posted 5 years ago
Sat Nov 3 2007 14:35:04
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I predict that if the bedbug situation in New York City becomes very widespread, underground labs will spring up to manufacture, and sell, more powerful chemicals. From what I've heard, they aren't very hard to make. I hope it doesn't come to this but, if the problem is not addressed properly, it probably will.
paulaw0919

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Posted 5 years ago
Sat Nov 3 2007 14:36:59
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From your mouth to Gods ears BBH
Nobugsonme

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Posted 5 years ago
Sat Nov 3 2007 15:00:04
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Jammin,
Cincinnati is definitely doing some things right.

OTOH, I am not certain they are encouraging people strenuously enough to get PCO treatment, nor do they seem to be financially assisting with it at this point. The articles I have seen imply many people are getting one treatment and being surprised they still have bed bugs. Or they're wasting time with doing their own sprays in their apts., while their neighbors' bed bugs keep coming. Education must be prioritized--if people do not understand bed bugs, how they spread, and how to kill them, they will only spread even as people try to fight them.

(I'd be interested in knowing more about what they were going to Vikane! You are free to discuss companies, Jammin. There are no rules about that. Anyone can PM me if you have questions about that.)
bugalew

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Posted 5 years ago
Thu Nov 8 2007 16:26:58
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So I can learn from those who've come before me- I'm curious about what happens when one of us NYC'ers writes to a politician-council people, borough presidents etc. What are the responses, if any?
mrbill0626

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Posted 5 years ago
Fri Nov 9 2007 0:45:11
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Bugalew:

Try it. You and the others. Write to the politicians/councilmembers, etc, that's what they're there for isn't it? I get mail regularly from politicians who want to save Social Security or end illegal immigration, or decrease or eliminate taxes, etc. you name it. So maybe it's time for them to start mailing out petitions for a solution to the bed bug problem. We pay their salaries, remember. So let's put them to work for us.

Mr Bill
nyjammin

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Posted 5 years ago
Fri Nov 9 2007 9:40:29
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How many times have I heard people on these forums saying things like "Write Oprah" or "write your councilman, politician, etc."? C'mon! People here are all talk and no action. They all talk, talk, talk. They all say you do this and you do that. Never say "I will go and write my councilman, I will go and get something done." It's always something else or someone else or no one wants themselves exposed. Pleeze!! And don't ask me why I don't do something because I'm just like you, waiting for someone else to do something.