Bed bugs are gross--no doubt about it. But unlike other common insects, including mosquitos and flies, they don't usually carry diseases. So this report from the CDC is disturbing because it suggests that people face more potential danger from insecticides used to kill bed bugs than the insects themselves. The culprits: improper use of the chemicals and use by people who haven't been trained/licensed to use them. Here's an excerpt from the CDC report describing some non-chemical solutions:
Nonchemical methods to effectively control bed bugs include heating infested rooms to 118°F (48°C) for 1 hour or cooling rooms to 3°F (-16°C) for 1 hour by professional applicators; encasing mattresses and box springs with bed bug--excluding covers; and vacuuming, steaming, laundering, and disposing of infested items. Any effective control measure for bed bugs requires support from all residents in affected buildings and ongoing monitoring for infestation from other housing units. Often, multiple inspections and treatments are needed to eradicate bed bugs.
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