Chicago Earns Notorious Honor for Second Year in a Row
Chicago continues to top the list of most bed bug treatments, according to a report released by pest control leader Orkin. Winning the same honor last year prompted Chicago lawmakers to pass an ordinance requiring condo associations to have a formal management plan in place for the detection, inspection and treatment of these pests.
But Chicago was not alone. Half of all cities surveyed saw an increase in bed bug treatment, according to Orkin’s 2013 Bed Bug Cities List.
In the South, Nashville moved up 17 spots on the list while Charlotte climbed 18 spots. Other cities that made notable leaps up the list include Champaign/Springfield, Ill., Pittsburgh and Greenville/ Spartanburg/Asheville, S.C. On the other end of the spectrum, Omaha, Neb., Colorado Springs/Pueblo, Colo., Lexington, Ky. and Buffalo, N.Y. settled into significantly lower spots on the list than last year.
Of the five new cities on the list, three are in the Midwest – Toledo, Ohio, Peoria, Ill. and Davenport, Iowa/Moline, Ill. New Orleans and Kansas City took the final two spots on the list as new entries. On the east coast, six cities took positions lower on the list, including three cities in New York – Albany, Buffalo and New York City.
Overall, bed bug infestations continue to plague residents. In 2013, Orkin’s parent company saw a 20% increase in business.The nationwide resurgence of the bed bug population prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to release a joint statement advising the public of the emerging health issues associated with bed bugs.
“While studies show that bed bugs do not spread disease, the physical and mental health consequences are well documented and of serious public concern,” said Orkin entomologist and Technical Services Director Ron Harrison, Ph.D. “Once bed bugs are inside your home or business, they can reproduce quickly and can travel from place to place in personal belongings and even on people. They can also move from place to place on their own, independently of objects.”
Dr. Harrison offers some tips that could help ward off a full-scale infestation at your rental property:
Inspect your units regularly for signs of bed bugs — the bugs themselves or spots left on furnishings.
Discourage clutter in the unit. This will make bed bug inspections and detection much easier.
Launder potentially infested bed linens, curtains and stuffed animals at the hottest temperature allowed for fabric.
Limit the introduction of second-hand furniture unless it’s closely inspected for any signs of bed bugs. Quarantine items for a period of time before allowing them into a unit.
Dr. Harrison warns that bed bugs could be anywhere, even if you don’t see any signs of them.
Because every bed bug scenario is different, it’s important to call on a professional who can create a solution tailored to your needs.
Below is the complete list of city rankings by the number of bed bug treatments Orkin performed from January to December 2013, along with any shift in ranking compared to January to December 2012.
Chicago
Los Angeles (+1)
Columbus, Ohio (+3)
Detroit (-2)
Cincinnati
Cleveland/Akron/Canton (+2)
Dayton (+4)
Washington D.C. (-1)
Denver (-5)
Indianapolis (+6)
Richmond/Petersburg, Va. (+1)
Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville, N.C. (+3)
Dallas/Ft. Worth (-4)
Syracuse, N.Y. (+7)
Atlanta (+14)
Houston (+2)
New York (-7)
Seattle/Tacoma (-5)
San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose (-5)
Boston (+2)
Milwaukee (-2)
Miami/Ft. Lauderdale (+3)
Nashville (+17)
Pittsburgh (+12)
Charlotte (+18)
San Diego (+6)
Baltimore (-7)
Phoenix (+7)
Cedar Rapids/Waterloo, Iowa (+4)
Charleston/Huntington, W. Va. (+1)
Knoxville, Tenn. (-4)
Louisville, Ky. (-2)
Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo, Mich. (+5)
Hartford/New Haven, Conn. (-8)
Champaign/Springfield, Ill. (+13)
Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville, S.C. (+11)
Omaha, Neb. (-20)
Buffalo, N.Y. (-10)
Lincoln/Hastings/Kearney, Neb. (+2)
Lexington, Ky. (-16)
Sacramento/Stockton/Modesto, Calif. (+4)
Colorado Springs/Pueblo, Colo. (-19)
Albany/Schenectady/Troy, N.Y. (-1)
Minneapolis/St. Paul (-10)
Honolulu (-8)
Toledo, Ohio
Peoria/Bloomington, Ill.
Davenport, Iowa/Moline, Ill.
New Orleans
Kansas City
For more information about bed bug treatment, visit Orkin at www.orkin.com
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