A major pest is rearing its ugly head in the city again.
The number of calls about bed bugs in Toronto has jumped almost 1,000 per cent - mostly stemming from incidents in multi-unit dwellings, such as apartments, student residences and hotels.
The tiny blood-suckers have sparked more than 1,400 calls to Toronto Public Health this year - up from only 147 calls in 2006. And city officials say they know exactly why the critters are making a comeback.
Infestations are being blamed on an increase in international travel and a decrease in the use of toxic pesticides.
"We're no longer using highly toxic chemicals in order to kill bed bugs or other types of insects," noted city councillor Paula Fletcher. "So they're kind of creeping their way back into our homes and into our bedrooms."
But there are ways to control the pests, which also hide in bed frames, chairs, sofas and electronics.
A report before the board of health is calling for $75,000 in funding to help the elderly and other vulnerable Torontonians rid their homes of bed bugs.
What do you do if you have bed bugs in your home? Here are some tips courtesy of Toronto Public Health:
- Consult with your local health department or a professional pest control operator to confirm that you have bed bugs.
- Inspect your mattress and bed frame, particularly the folds, crevices and the underside, and other locations where bed bugs like to hide.
- Use a nozzle attachment on the vacuum to capture the bed bugs and their eggs. Vacuum all crevices on your mattress, bed frame, baseboards and any objects close to the bed. It is essential to vacuum daily and empty the vacuum immediately.
- Wash all your linens in the hottest water possible and place them in a hot dryer for 20 minutes. Consider covering your pillows and mattress with a plastic cover.
- Remove all unnecessary clutter.
- Seal cracks and crevices between baseboards, on wood bed frames, floors and walls with caulking. Repair or remove peeling wallpaper, tighten loose light switch covers, and seal any openings where pipes, wires or other utilities come into your home (pay special attention to walls that are shared between apartments).
- Monitor daily by setting out glue boards or sticky tape (carpet tape works well) to catch the bed bugs. Closely examine any items that you are bringing into your home.
- Consult professional pest control services and discuss options that pose the least risk to humans and the environment.
For more information on bedbugs,
click here.