East York Tenants Group

Refer to this link for more information on Cockroach & Bed bug pests:  http://wp.me/Pia0J-Jc 

—————————————————————-

Bed bugs appear to be a growing problem in Toronto, and yes, in our beloved East York, too.

Toronto Public Health notes an increase in calls about bed bugs: 800 calls between January and May 2007 compared to 197 calls in 2005.

Pest control companies have also recorded an increase in the number of bed bug cases they encounter. Their anecdotal evidence seems to point to the bed bug problem only starting to impact Toronto in the late 1990s.

Bed bugs don’t ask whether their human prey are renters or owners, living in an apartment or house, but the infestations can be harder on tenants than on other residents.

The proximity of living spaces in an apartment building or shared house can make it more likely for bed bugs to spread from one unit to another. On top of this, renters may get little response from their landlord when they raise the issue of bedbugs and many just cannot afford to buy new clothing or furniture to replace ones infested with the bugs or to move to get away from bed bug infestations.

Witness the case of Megan, an East York tenant:

‘Megan Basten and her boyfriend had been scratching what they thought were mosquito bites for at least a week before they learned what had truly been feasting on their bodies.

There were a few bites here and there, on their ankles, hands and across their back and arms.

The couple, who share an East York apartment in a six-floor rental complex, had recently been camping so they had no reason to think their itchiness had been caused by anything other than a few annoying, harmless mosquitoes. It was a pest control officer, who came to spray for cockroaches, who identified the culprit. They had bed bugs.

“We told him, ‘We don’t think we have cockroaches,'” Basten said in an interview. “He took a look at our bites and recognized them right away.”

The man warned Basten that it could become an infestation.

“I have purple welts because of these bites,” Basten said…

“There is a person on the third floor who has bed bugs. He threw out all his furniture and nothing was done. He couldn’t live with it anymore,” Basten said. “I can’t go into someone’s apartment to talk to them because I don’t know if they’re on my clothes. I don’t want to get kicked out of my building. I don’t know where I’ve gotten these bugs. I must have gotten them in my building.”‘

Read the rest of the source article here.

Though they cause ugly bite marks and sometimes unbearable itching (and resulting lack of sleep) the official response to the rise of bed bugs in the City has been slow – largely because unlike some other insect species, bed bugs have never been linked to serious illnesses and so N. American cities have historically classed them as a (lower priority) nuisance.

Toronto-Danforth (Ward 30) Councillor, Paula Fletcher has been one of our City legislators who has engaged with the bed bug issue.  She was very vocal about them at the beginning of the year.  We wonder what the follow-up has been and whether any other local politicians have taken up the cause?

Bed bugs, especially on a city-wide scale, are not easy to eradicate, but when there is a political will and ample resources there can at least be a good start. On the eve of the 2010 winter Olympics, Vancouver is running a bedbug eradication pilot programme, that is being held up as a standard.

The Vancouver programme (does any one have specifics??) involves educating the public as well as business and landlords about bed bugs and what can be done to prevent infestation and eradicate bed bugs once they appear.

Tips for controlling bedbugs

• Wash bedding in hottest available water and dry in hot dryer (49C) for 20 minutes.
• Check mattress and sofas regularly and vacuum thoroughly, using the nozzle attachment.
• Vacuum living space regularly and thoroughly, including cushions. Empty the vacuum bag immediately after.
• Don’t bring in furniture from the street.
• Keep suitcases away from your bed and other furniture when you come home from a trip.
• If you suspect your mattress is infested, don’t drag it outside. First, wrap it with a tarp to prevent eggs and bugs from being dispersed through your home or the hallway of your building.
• Cover mattresses with a zippered plastic cover.

Visit the Toronto Public Health website or call them at 416-338-7600 for more information.

Source articles: Health: Bed bugs could be coming to an apartment near you and Ouch…Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite