Bed Bugs are Public Health Pests | US EPA (2024)

FAQs

Bed Bugs are Public Health Pests | US EPA? ›

Myth: Bed bugs are not a public health pest. Reality: Bed bugs are a public health pest. We coordinated with CDC and USDA to identify pests of public health importance and issued a Pesticide Registration Notice that listed pests of significant public health importance. Bed bugs are on this list.

Bed bugs are a public health pest. While bed bugs have not been shown to transmit disease, they do cause a variety of negative physical health, mental health and economic consequences. Some of these effects include: Allergic reactions to their bites, which can be severe.

Although OSHA does not have specific regulations solely focused on bed bugs, its general duty clause requires employers to provide a safe work environment free from recognized hazards. If a bug infestation poses a health risk to employees, OSHA may use this clause to address the issue.

Standard renters insurance policies typically won't offer coverage for bed bug infestations or any resulting damage. If an infestation occurs, you or your landlord are responsible for covering the extermination costs.

Nearly all the laws prevent a landlord from renting or advertising a unit with a known current infestation. Beyond disclosing the history of bed bugs and prohibiting the rental of infested properties, some local laws also require landlords to: Provide tenants with information about bed bugs.

Bed bugs are not a sign of a dirty home or poor personal hygiene. Bed bugs are hitchhikers - they travel to new places by hiding in furniture, suitcases, or other objects that get moved around.

Bed bugs are obligate blood-sucking insects belonging to the Cimicidae family. They are ectoparasites with a long history of presence in human communities.

Offices make a good environment for bed bugs since there always is the possibility that an employee, custodian or a visitor may bring bed bugs into the office.

Bed bugs can be found anywhere that humans live or visit. Bed bugs can be unknowingly brought into the workplace by employees, custodial staff, visitors, customers, vendors, clients, and others. Workers potentially at higher risk are those who handle bedding, clothing, or furniture where bed bugs could be hiding.

Yes, you can sue a hotel for bed bugs. However, immediately filing a lawsuit is not always the best way to go about it.

Can you claim compensation for bed bugs? ›

Discovering bed bugs on holiday is not a pleasant experience and can sometimes result in medical attention being required during or following your stay. If you've had to deal with an infestation that has resulted in bed bug bites in your holiday accommodation, there's a high chance that you can claim compensation.

Standard Precautions apply to all patients including those known or suspected of having bed bugs.

With a huge infestation, bed bugs start to move away from the bed, so you're more likely to see one in an exposed place during the day. In very severe infestations people can become anemic. That takes a lot of bugs though—maybe 100,000 feeding once a week or more. Another clue to infestation is odor.

In 2002, the federal government (EPA, CDC, USDA) officially acknowledged the public health impacts of bed bugs. They cause a variety of negative physical health, mental health and economic consequences.

Most times, clothing, bedding and furniture from a home with a bed bug problem can be treated and do not need to be thrown away. If you decide to dispose of items, they should be carefully sealed in a plastic bag or container first so the bed bugs don't spread.

You aren't legally obligated to tell. Your home life is your business, and no state or federal law requires that you divulge a bed bug infestation to your employer.

The landlord after all is responsible for ridding the property of bed bugs and making sure they don't spread to other units. A tenant who refuses to cooperate or makes the problem worse only opens the landlord up to liability, further hassle, and damages.

If you find out your neighbor has bed bugs you need to take the situation seriously and proceed accordingly. First, if you live in a single unattached family home (as opposed to a condo, apartment, or row-home) the chances of cross-contamination are fairly minimal.

Leaving bed bugs untreated will exacerbate the problem, as infestations do not die out on their own. With a single bed bug laying as many as 200 eggs in a lifetime, an untreated infestation can grow rapidly. The larger the infestation, the more susceptible you are to bed bug bites.