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Complaints of bedbug infestations on the rise locally, across Louisiana
by Scott Satchfield / Eyewitness News
wwltv.com
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 10:21 PM
NEW ORLEANS -- At a U.S. Department of Agriculture lab in New Orleans, researchers with the city's mosquito and termite control board are tackling a relatively new problem -- or creature.
"(We?re receiving) more-than-normal calls about bedbugs, bedbug related problems within homes and hotels and these kind of things," said Dr. Ken Brown, a city entomologist.
Actually, bedbugs are not that new, but Brown said they are making a big comeback in the U.S.
Officials with the Louisiana Office of Public Health say bedbugs have their full attention, as complaints are on the rise across the state and in New Orleans.
"I've been telling people for the last four or five years that they're coming, and they're here now," said state entomologist Kyle Moppert. "And you can expect more and more bedbugs."
State health officials say in 2008, they received three complaints. In 2009, that number rose to 18.
So far in 2010, there have been 28 complaints statewide -- with 10 in New Orleans.
The numbers only represent hotel and motel complaints.
Jed Darensbourg, president of an exterminating company in Metairie, believes the problems go much deeper.
"The phone is ringing with hotels, apartments, homeowners -- all concerned with the bedbugs situation, that is getting worse and worse by the week," Darensbourg said.
The creepy crawly bedbugs are after one thing: human blood.
.../
Full text and video:
http://www.wwltv.com/news/Complaint...-rise-locally-across-Louisiana-103684229.html
by Scott Satchfield / Eyewitness News
wwltv.com
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 10:21 PM
NEW ORLEANS -- At a U.S. Department of Agriculture lab in New Orleans, researchers with the city's mosquito and termite control board are tackling a relatively new problem -- or creature.
"(We?re receiving) more-than-normal calls about bedbugs, bedbug related problems within homes and hotels and these kind of things," said Dr. Ken Brown, a city entomologist.
Actually, bedbugs are not that new, but Brown said they are making a big comeback in the U.S.
Officials with the Louisiana Office of Public Health say bedbugs have their full attention, as complaints are on the rise across the state and in New Orleans.
"I've been telling people for the last four or five years that they're coming, and they're here now," said state entomologist Kyle Moppert. "And you can expect more and more bedbugs."
State health officials say in 2008, they received three complaints. In 2009, that number rose to 18.
So far in 2010, there have been 28 complaints statewide -- with 10 in New Orleans.
The numbers only represent hotel and motel complaints.
Jed Darensbourg, president of an exterminating company in Metairie, believes the problems go much deeper.
"The phone is ringing with hotels, apartments, homeowners -- all concerned with the bedbugs situation, that is getting worse and worse by the week," Darensbourg said.
The creepy crawly bedbugs are after one thing: human blood.
.../
Full text and video:
http://www.wwltv.com/news/Complaint...-rise-locally-across-Louisiana-103684229.html