Bed bugs show up in New York City public schools

In New York City, bed bugs have been reportedly found in public schools and even one famous Sports Club. So don’t let the name fool you; bed bugs don’t just stay in your bed.

Bed Bugs in NYC Public Schools

Bed bugs travel from private homes into classrooms using students as their form of transportation. Bed bugs in NYC public schools is not a new phenomenon, just a growing one. With each unlucky New York City public schools’ discovery, this increasingly frequent occurrence draws more attention due to the school’s obligation to inform parents when even just one of these bugs is found.

Students carry the blood-sucking bugs on their clothes or even their book bags making it all the more important for parents to prevent infestations in their homes. While measures have been taken to encourage parents to prevent bed bug infestations many homes are already affected and therefore keep this problem ongoing. If prevention is no longer an option, parents should at least act to contain their problem with products like SecureSleep™ Smart Buy for Home.

These products can trap bed bugs where their name suggests they belong – the bed – and with bed bug proof bedding covers prevent the bugs from biting and spreading. By isolating the problem, NYC schools are hoping to see less numbers of these critters that have increased by three times this past year and caused considerable damage.

Read more about the NYC public school bed bug problems at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2017740/Start-scratching–The-number-bedbugs-New-York-Citys-public-schools-TRIPLES-year.html

Bed bugs and the law in New York City

Bed bug cases in New York have become a serious issue. There are many inquires on this matter, in regard to legalities. While we are not equipped to provide legal advice, we hope this discussion can help you to locate references to help you in your bedbug battle. These sources and references cover a range of topics including residential rentals, actions that should be taken by tenants and address popular questions such as: Who should take care of the bed bug infestation? What are the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants under the New York State Multiple Dwelling Law, the New York City Housing Maintenance Code, New York Real Property Law and the New York City Health Code.

• There are a series of concerns and questions regarding dwellings with a landlord/tenant relationship, including:
• What are the practical remedies available to tenants when landlords refuse to help?
• What if the infestation continues unabated for months and even years?
• What about a tenant who wants to move out and break their lease?
• Can I sue for bedbug damages?

How can I best compel my landlord to take action against the perceived source of the infestation within the building? What if that source is thought to be the apartment of an uncooperative tenant?

The policy perspective holds an interesting point of view, noting the apparent inadequacy of law provisions towards and management of bed bug infestations. When it comes to bed bugs, there are various factors that bring about complications.  Bed bugs easily spread between apartments, making it vital to inspect and identify other apartments that may be infested in order to eradicate the infestation. Detecting  bed bug infestations is difficult in cases of low-level infestation, so city housing inspectors may not even see the bed bugs, and therefore there would be no violation cited. Because eradicating bed bugs is so difficult, even skilled bed bug management practices may fail to fully exterminate the bugs. This is due to the fact that the tools and skills currently available are inadequate, because the preparation requirements placed on tenants may be difficult to comply with, and because new infestations may develop, so that even the landlord’s good faith efforts may still fail. The conventional wisdom is that bed bug infestations are extremely hard to get rid of, that they are regarded strictly as a job for professionals. Tenants are discouraged from trying to treat a case themselves, and it is even illegal for landlords who are not licensed pest control professional exterminators to apply certain bed bug treatments. Further, professional bed bug eradication is prohibitively expensive.

The best course of action when it comes to bed bugs is prevention, primarily in the form of mattress encasement’s and other various entomologist approved products.

Bed bug References and Information for renters and landowners

Bed Bug Bites All Over New York City!

New Yorkers were bitten bad by bedbugs in 2010. During the year, New York’s residential bedbug complaints rose nearly 7%. Nationally, according to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), one out of five Americans has either had a bedbug infestation in their home, or knows of someone who has encountered these critters at home, or in a hotel.

Mr. Sorkin, an entomologist, says that New York City tends to have many more infestations than actual complaints and violations. He says that many people won’t report a bedbug infestation, especially bed bugs in apartment buildings.

Years:	2009	2010
Violations:	4,811	4,846
Complaints:	12,594	13,472

In case of a bedbug complaint, New York has registered such situations with the city’s 311 nonemergency hotline. When 311 is contacted, the landlord is notified of the complaint and the tenant is then contacted by the department in order to confirm the complaint, prior to making a site visit, followed by a site visit by a pest control professional. In the case that bedbugs are detected, a violation will be issued.

A national survey says: People are most concerned about encountering bedbugs at hotels, in public transportation, at movie theaters, in retail stores and at medical facilities (NPMA). The association reports that bed bugs are present in every state, with no regional “hot spot” for infestation.

Respondents in the Midwest and the South:	1 out of 5 encountered bedbugs.
Respondents in the West:	19% encountered bedbugs.
Respondents in the Northeast:	17% encountered bedbugs.

Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Management Association says, “Fairly evenly across the country, people are having experiences with bedbugs. I think so often people think Manhattan is the only city that has bedbugs…”

Bedbugs seem to be a major problem for travelers, as bed bugs in hotels have become an increasing issue. Bedbug.com offers bed bug travel protection, as well as many other categories of bed bug prevention aids and entomologist approved products!