Chicago vs. Bed Bugs

Wow.  As Pest Management Professional reports, the Central Ohio Bed Bug Task Force launched its website today, and it is impressive, folks. Looks to me like Dr. Susan Jones (a mastermind behind the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Joint Task Force Strategic Plan) found a way to help her fellow Ohioans after all.

Here’s what the task force is all about (emphasis is mine):

The Central Ohio Bed Bug Task Force formed in November 2008 because of the growing number of bed bug infestations in Franklin County. It is a collaborative endeavor including representatives from local governments, health departments, social service agencies, pest control applicators, landlord and tenants rights groups, fire departments, the Ohio Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Health, and the Ohio State University Extension.

The goal of the task force is to prevent bed bug infestations through education and serve as a resource to those struggling with an infestation.

No community is immune to bed bugs. Socioeconomic status is not an indicator of one’s susceptibility to a bed bug infestation nor is it an indicator if someone is dirty. Anyone can experience an infestation.

Here’s what’s fantastic about the website:

Target Areas Page

• Schools
  • Pictures from the Bed Bug Overview for schools
  • School Letter to Parents (download)
  • School Identification and Management Guidelines for Schools
  • “Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite: What Every School Community Needs to Know” presentation

• Public Safety
  • Informational Presentation for firefighters
    

• Housing
  • “Anyone can get a bed bug infestation” article
  • New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Fact Sheet for the home

• Social Services
  • For health care and social service guidelines for home visits, click HERE (links to Social Service policy document)

• Health Care
  • For health care and social service guidelines for home visits, click HERE

• Hotels & Lodging
  • Hotel Staff Training Guide
    English
    Spanish
  • The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene bed bug factsheet for hotel safety

• Steering Committee: The steering committee is made up of individuals with a wide ranch of expertise regarding bed bug infestations. To send comments to the steering committee, please click HERE.
  • Matt Beal, The Ohio Department of Agriculture
  • Sue Carpenter, Columbus Code Enforcement
  • Andrew Christman, The Ohio Exterminating Co., Inc.
  • Dr. Susan Jones, The Ohio State University Extension Office
  • Paul Wenning, Franklin County Board of Health

Partners Page (with links to almost all task force partners listed)

• Buckeye Real Estate
• Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging
• City of Hilliard Code Enforcement
• City of Reynoldsburg Building Department
• City Of Westerville Building Department
• City of Whitehall Code Enforcement
• Columbus Apartment Association
• Columbus City Schools
• Columbus Code Enforcement
• Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority
• Columbus Public Health
• Columbus Urban League
• Dragoo and Associates Property Management
• F & W Properties
• Franklin County Board of Health
• Franklin County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MRDD)
• Franklin County Office on Aging
• Grove City Area Visitors and Convention Bureau
• Jackson Township Division of Fire
• The Legal Aid Society of Columbus
• LifeCare Alliance
• Madison Township Fire Department
• Ohio Department of Agriculture
• Ohio Department of Commerce
• Ohio Department of Health
• Ohio Exterminating Company, Inc.
• OhioHealth Group
• Ohio Hotel and Lodging Association
• Orkin Pest Control
• The Ohio State University Extension
• The Ohio State University Medical Center
• The Ohio State University Student Housing Legal Clinic
• Quality Pest Control
• Southern Mill Creek Products
• St. Agatha School
• State Fire Marshal Inspection Bureau
• State of Ohio, Division of Industrial Compliance
• Truro Township Fire Department
• Upper Arlington City Schools
• Varment Guard Environmental Services, Inc.
• Washington Township Fire Department
• Waste Management
• Westerville City Schools
• Willis Law Firm

Photos Page: Images are courtesy of The Ohio State University Extension Office.

• Behind a baseboard (2)
• Shed skins on box springs
• Fecal spotting on sofa underside
• Fecal spotting on sofa frame
• Bed bugs on suitcase (2)
• Electrical outlet plate
• Hatched eggs
• Fed bed bug nymph
• Bed bug inspection

Nice work, Central Ohio. City of Chicago? State of Illinois? It’s time.

Special thanks to our adviser Renee Corea for the tip.