Analysis of 44 Cases before the Landlord and Tenant Board Involving Bed Bug Infestations in Ontario, Canada: Focus on Adjudicator Decisions Based on Entomological/Pest Management Evidence and Accountability under the Residential Tenancy Act and Other Applicable Legislation (original) (raw)
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Evaluation of a model community‐wide bed bug management program in affordable housing
Pest Management Science, 2015
BACKGROUNDLow‐income apartment communities in the United States are suffering from disproportionally high bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., infestations owing to lack of effective monitoring and treatment. Studies examining the effectiveness of integrated pest management (IPM) for the control of bed bugs in affordable housing have been limited to small subsets of bed‐bug‐infested apartments, rather than at the apartment community level. We developed, implemented and evaluated a complex‐wide IPM program for bed bugs in an affordable housing community. Proactive inspections and biweekly treatments using a combination of non‐chemical and chemical methods until bed bugs were not detected for three biweekly monitoring visits were key elements of the IPM program.RESULTSA total of 55 bed‐bug‐infested apartments were identified during the initial inspection. Property management was unaware of 71% of these infestations. Over the next 12 months, 14 additional infested apartments were identified....
Bed Bug Infestations in an Urban Environment
Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2005
Until recently, bed bugs have been considered uncommon in the industrialized world. This study determined the extent of reemerging bed bug infestations in homeless shelters and other locations in Toronto, Canada. Toronto Public Health documented complaints of bed bug infestations from 46 locations in 2003, most commonly apartments (63%), shelters (15%), and rooming houses (11%). Pest control operators in Toronto (N = 34) reported treating bed bug infestations at 847 locations in 2003, most commonly single-family dwellings (70%), apartments (18%), and shelters (8%). Bed bug infestations were reported at 20 (31%) of 65 homeless shelters. At 1 affected shelter, 4% of residents reported having bed bug bites. Bed bug infestations can have an adverse effect on health and quality of life in the general population, particularly among homeless persons living in shelters. Ethical and scientific approval was obtained from Toronto Public Health and the St. Michael's Hospital Research Ethics Board. Shelter staff and residents gave informed consent before participation.
2012
Studies have pointed toward a resurgence of bed bugs. Many of these studies have identified several determinants such as distant and intermediate sociodemographic factors, responsible for the resurgence of this prehistoric pest. In this retrospective descriptive study with ecological association, Social Determinants of Health approach and Descriptive Correlation Research framework were used for predicting and explaining those possible relationships between the selected sociodemographic features (independent variables), and the number of bed bug complaints in 2009 and 2010 by ward-level (dependent variables) in Toronto. Independent variables like apartment buildings with <5 storeys (Spearman's rho=0.555,p=0.006/rho=0.571,p=0.002), rental dwellings (rho=0.590,p<0.001/ rho=0.623,p<0.001), multi-family households (rho=-0.405,p=0.002/rho=-0.421,p=0.002), and work (Pearson correlation: r=0.538,p<0.001/r=0.600,p<0.001) and non-work (r=0.652,p<0.001/r=0.648,p<0.001) trips by transit appeared to have a relationship with the number of complaints received in 2009 and 2010. The aforesaid independent variables were responsible for 16-43% of variation in the number of complaints. This study was able to demonstrate a statistical correlation between some of these sociodemographic features, and bed bug infestations reflected in the complaints received by Toronto Public Health. The results of this particular study are considered to be helpful in increasing community partnerships and leadership from Toronto Public Health in dealing with various bed bug-related issues.
2012
In 2011 Arizona joined several other states enacting bed bug related legislation. The new legislation (SB 1306) assigns specific responsibilities to landlords and tenants in multifamily housing. This law does not apply to a single family residence. Under Arizona law, landlords are required to provide existing and new tenants with educational materials on bed bugs. Additionally, landlords are prohibited from knowingly leasing a bed bug infested residence. The legislation requires tenants to notify the landlord of a bed bug infestation and disallows them from knowingly moving bed bug infested materials into a residence.
Bed Bugs and Public Health: New Approaches for an Old Scourge
Canadian Journal of Public Health, 2012
B ed bugs (Cimex lectularuis) are small, elusive insects that feed almost exclusively on human blood. Bed bug infestations have become prominent worldwide, generating increased public concern. 1,2 Despite the attention to bed bugs by the public, researchers, governments and pest control companies, their control has been a challenge. 3,4 Because bed bugs have not been proven to transmit disease between humans, 3 there is resistance to framing their resurgence as a public health threat. Nevertheless, bed bugs have been associated with negative health effects, including allergic reactions, bacterial skin infections and scarring as a result of the intense scratching they provoke. Improper insecticide use can result in acute health effects 3 and may lead to chronic disease. 5,6 Perhaps of greatest concern to public health is the psychological stress on persons living with bed bugs. While bed bugs do not discriminate-anyone can be subject to a bed bug infestation-health impacts differ depending upon people's social and economic circumstances. One study conducted with Winnipeg's inner-city residents found that bed bugs negatively impacted the former's ability to lead healthy lives. Respondents reported that bed bugs disrupted their sleep and led to stress, social isolation, loss of self-worth, and social stigma. 4 Moreover, the financial costs (and associated stress) incurred from an infestation can be overwhelming for those with limited means. 4 METHODS A workshop at the 2010 Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) Conference* examined the re-emergence of bed bugs in Canada, discussed the state of bed bug science (summarized elsewhere) 7 and compared the approaches to bed bug identification and control of municipal and public health authorities in four large Canadian cities. Here we report on the experiences of the four cities-Toronto, Winnipeg, Montreal and Vancouver-with regard to their efforts to respond to the public health threat posed by bed bugs. By drawing on the experiences of the four cities (including updates since 2010), we make the case that framing the bed bug problem as a public health threat is key to the implementation of effective strategies for its management-especially for vulnerable populations.
Choosing a pest management professional for bed bug control
2014
The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service periodically issues revisions to its publications. The most current edition is made available. For access to an earlier edition, if available for this title, please contact the Oklahoma State University Library Archives by email at libscua@okstate.edu or by phone at 405-744-6311
Effectiveness of a Reduced-Risk Insecticide Based Bed Bug Management Program in Low-Income Housing
Insects, 2013
Bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.) infestations are becoming increasingly common in low-income communities. Once they are introduced, elimination is very difficult. As part of the efforts to develop effective and safe bed bug management programs, we conducted a laboratory study evaluating the efficacy of a reduced-risk insecticide Alpine aerosol (0.5% dinotefuran). We then conducted a field evaluation of a reduced-risk insecticide based integrated pest management (IPM) program in low-income family apartments with young children. In laboratory evaluations, direct spray and 5 min exposure to dry Alpine aerosol residue caused 100.0 ± 0.0 and 91.7 ± 8.3% mortality to bed bug nymphs, respectively. Direct Alpine aerosol spray killed 91.3 ± 4.3% of the eggs. The IPM program included education, steam, bagging infested linens, placing intercepting devices under furniture legs and corners of rooms, applying Alpine aerosol and Alpine dust (0.25% dinotefuran, 95% diatomaceous earth dust), and regularly scheduled monitoring and re-treatment. Nine apartments ranging from 1 1,428 (median: 29) bed bugs based on visual inspection and Climbup interceptor counts were included. Over a 6-month period, an average 172 g insecticide (Alpine aerosol + Alpine dust) was used in each apartment, a 96% reduction in pesticide usage compared to chemical only treatment reported in a similar environment. The IPM program resulted in an average of 96.8 ± 2.2% reduction in the number of bed bugs. However, elimination of bed bugs was only achieved in three lightly infested apartments (<30 bed bugs at the beginning). Elimination success was closely correlated with the level of bed bug populations.
Pest management science, 2018
Infestations of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., have become common in low-income communities in the USA over the last 15 years. We evaluated community-based integrated pest management (IPM) programs for reducing bed bug infestations. Two housing authorities (Bayonne and Hackensack) implemented bed bug IPM programs. A third housing authority (Paterson) was used as the control site. Building-wide surveys were conducted in all communities, three times, to evaluate the effectiveness of the IPM programs. From 0 to 24 months, the infestation rate at Bayonne, Hackensack, and Paterson decreased by 49, 64, and 26%, respectively. The two sites that adopted IPM achieved faster bed bug elimination than the control site. The bed bug introduction rate over a 24-month period at Bayonne, Hackensack, and Paterson was 7, 3, and 11%, respectively. The introduction rate was positively associated with the initial infestation rate. Residents from buildings enrolled in IPM programs were more sat...
Journal of Integrated Pest Management, 2017
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.) continue to increase as serious pests in the built environment. These insects are particularly problematic in low-income multiunit housing buildings, where infestations are difficult to control, tend to become chronic, and the locations serve as reservoirs from which bed bugs disperse. This document reviews and reports on published accounts and validations of various methods to detect and manage bed bugs in these urban settings. The analysis demonstrates that programs using IPM approaches for bed bug management can lead to significant reductions in bed bug incidence and density when compared with insecticidereliant approaches. However, total elimination of bed bugs in multiunit environments remains a challenge and is often reported as unattainable, raising concerns about the effectiveness of strategies for bed bug management used in these environments. Several factors may contribute to the persistence of bed bugs in low-income, multiunit housing situations, including lack of awareness and education of residents and staff about bed bugs, overall building infestation levels, resident lifestyles, reluctance to report infestations, resident abilities to undertake unit preparation required by some pest management companies, and low efficacy of insecticide treatments. Although community-wide and proactive bed bug management programs are shown to be more effective, sustainable, and economically viable in the long term than reactive and insecticide-only programs, general adoption of best practices may be impeded by budget limitations and interest of affordable multiunit housing providers. Resumen Los chinches de cama (Cimex lectularius) es una plaga que se sigue expandiendo en ambientes urbanos. Estos insectos representan un serio problema en edificaciones multi-residenciales de familias de bajos nivel de ingresos econ omicos, donde las infestaciones son dif ıciles de controlar, tienden a volverse cr onicas y sirven de reservorios desde donde los chinches se dispersan. Este documento revisa y reporta informaci on publicada de la validaci on de varios mé todos para para detectar y manejar los chinches de cama en estos ambientes urbanos. El an alisis mostr o que los programas que usan abordajes de Manejo Integrado de Plagas (MIPs) para el control de los chinches de cama pueden reducir de manera significativa la incidencia y densidad de estos insectos, si se compara con los programas donde se utilizan solamente insecticidas. Sin embargo, la erradicaci on de los chinches de cama en estos ambientes sigue siendo un reto y muchas veces dif ıcil de alcanzar, lo que genera dudas acerca de la eficacia de estos programas para el chinche de cama usados en estos ambientes. Varios factores podr ıan contribuir a la persistencia de chinches de cama en estas edificaciones, los cuales incluye la escasez de concientizaci on y educaci on de residentes y personal administrativo acerca del
Prevalence, Knowledge, and Concern About Bed Bugs
Journal of environmental health
Recent research suggests that the resurgence of bed bugs in the U.S. has occurred at an alarming rate. Assumptions have been made that socioeconomic status is not associated with the prevalence of bed bug infestations. Little information is available at the local level, however, about the prevalence of bed bugs in private homes. The authors' pilot study aimed to identify prevalence, knowledge, and concern about bed bugs in one higher income village in Ohio utilizing survey methodology. Responses from 96 individuals who completed the Prevalence, Knowledge, and Concern About Bed Bugs survey were utilized for analysis. The majority of the sample respondents were white and 95% reported that they owned their residence. Only 6% knew someone with bed bugs. Additionally, 52% reported they were somewhat concerned about bed bugs. About 46% reported that they had changed their behavior. For a higher income area, the prevalence was dissimilar to the rate reported in the general public (abou...