Legislative Advocacy Session

Amy Ost and Tolu Onigbanjo

A “Dr. O” Presentation

Bed Bugs

Outline

Background

Scope of the Problem

Legislation in Motion New York City’s Action Plan Resources for Residents

Background

Background

Beg Bugs (Cimex lectularius)

Wingless, obligate ectoparasites

Feeds on bats, birds, mammals

After blood meal, increase in length by 30%-50% and in weight 150%-200%

Seeks warmth, which helps locate warm-blooded hosts

Hides during the day, and feeds at night

Life Cycle

Where to Hide?

Mattresses

Crevices in box springs

Backsides of Headboards

Clothing

Loose wallpaper

Behind hanging pictures

Migrating from one apartment to another through holes in walls, water pipes or gutters

Clinical Manifestations

Common Reactions 2 to 5 mm pruritic

maculopapular, erythematous lesions at feeding sites.

Complex Reactions: Local urticaria, or bullous rash

Resolves within a week

Treatment of Bite Reactions Antipruritic Agents Intermediate potency

Corticosteriods--Triamcinolone

Topical Mupirocin

Beg Bugs as Vectors of Human Disease

Transmission of more than 40 human diseases has been attributed to bed bugs, but there is little evidence of such transmission

HIV Detected in bed bugs up to 8 days after ingestion No viral replication No virus in bed bugs feces

HBV Hepatitis B surface antigen persist for up to 7 weeks No viral replication Seen in beg bugs feces for up to 6 weeks No effects of a 2-year eradication project in Gambia on the

rates of HBV infection despite 100% reduction of bed bug numbers

Beg Bugs as Vectors of Distress

Significant health effects including onset of Stress Anxiety Depression Fatigue

Unable to receive home healthcare services if concerned about an infestation

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs!

Don’t throw away mattresses—vacuum and seal.

Wash all clothing, linens, and bedding in hot water

Vacuum the house to remove bugs and eggs from carpet, and walls

Repair cracks in plaster, and glue down loosened wallpaper

Apply insecticides to cracks but not in your sleeping area. Repeat in 2 weeks

Enlist the services of a professional pest control firm

\\\

Scope of the Problem

dd

Scope of the Problem

Scope of the Problem

Bed bug complaints and violations have risen dramatically Homes Apartments Hotel rooms Hospitals Dormitories Retail Stores

Resurgence of Beg Bugs International travel Immigration Change in pest control practices Insecticide Resistance

Scope of the Problem

Bed Bugs are historically a problem… Early 1900s prior to central heating they used to die

in the winter Success against the bed bug battle came with DDT and

subsequent pesticides Related to changes in cockroach management

New bedbugs were likely introduced from overseas Resistance pattern in insecticides is now commonly

being seen with cities

Scope of the Problem

Bed bug infestations in NYC are reported to be increasing: Complaints rose from 537 in 2004 to 10,985 in 2009 Violations rose from 82 in 2004 to 4,084 in 2009 426 confirmed cases of bed bugs reported 243 different

New York City public schools in 2009 (twice as many as preceding year)

311 received 33,772 bed bug-related inquiries (increase of 54% from previous year)

Scope of the Problem

Related to several factors: Lack of public awareness and knowledge Density of Multi-unit living spaces Inadequate access (and difficult to afford) to quality

pest control services and resources for bed bug treatment

Limitation of the materials and methods Lack of efficient procedures to resolve

landlord/tenant disputes in an equitable way

New York City’s Action Plan

New York City’s Action Plan 2009

New York City adopts Local Law 14 Created a “Bed Bug Advisory Board” Convened to issue a report to the Mayor and City

Council

First convened in September 2009 and spent 7 months gathering information

Recommendations for the Management of Bed Bugs in New York City

April 2010, Published a Three-Part Report I: Education, Awareness and Early Detection II: Treatment and Remediation III: Monitoring and Policy

Part I: Education, Awareness and Early Detection

Take a proactive approach to public education and awareness

Provide bed bug training to stakeholders

Launch and maintain an online “Bed Bug Portal” devoted to bed bug facts and resources

Part I: Education, Awareness and Early Detection

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/vector/vector-faq1.shtml

Part I: Education, Awareness and Early Detection

http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/courses/courses.shtml.

Part I: Education, Awareness and Early Detection

Take a proactive approach to public education and awareness

Provide bed bug training to stakeholders

Launch and maintain an online “Bed Bug Portal” devoted to bed bug facts and resources

Part II: Treatment and Remediation

Establish protocols for proper disposal of infested items

Develop suggested minimum pest management practices

Create guidelines for the donation of used and second-hand items

Develop triage approach for immediate response

Offer guidelines for self-remediation

Part III: Monitoring and Policy Assemble a Bed Bug Team, headed by a qualified

entomologist (or equivalent professional) and support staff, to coordinate city-wide bed bugs efforts in conjunction with a Bed Bug Working Group

Develop integrated monitoring, tracking and reporting tools

Improve Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) bed bug infestation inspection protocols and code enforcement capacity

Increase the capability of New York City Housing (NYCHA) to take a proactive stance in preventing and addressing bed bug infestations

Part III: Monitoring and Policy

Evaluate current housing court procedures as they relate to both landlords and tenants and look for methods to compel compliance and access to ensure effective bed bug management

Utilize Article 151 of New York City Health Code to help overcome obstacles associated with bed bug management in buildings with widespread infestation

Require landlords to provide written bed bug information to tenants upon lease signing and renewal

Disseminate consumer warnings about bed bug risks from used furniture and mattresses

Encourage small business and social enterprise start-ups to provide bed bug preparation services to low and moderate-income households

New York City’s Action Plan: 2010

New York City’s Action Plan: 2010

Deputy Mayor Gibbs and Speaker Quinn announce funding of $500,000 for Web-Based Bed Bug Portal and other initiatives

Implemented by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

New York City’s Action Plan: 2010

Goals of the City:

To identify the scope of the New York City Bed Bug Epidemic

To effectively disseminate information about proper identification and handling

To assist in the coordination of an effective response to bed bugs

To deter the adverse health and well-being effects that develop among those with bed bug infestation

Who’s on the Committee?

Entomologist

Advocates

Representatives from numerous city agencies

Who else is helping out?

New York City’s Action Plan: 2010

Branches of New York City Government must work together.

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)

Housing Prevention and Development (HPD)

New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)

Environmental Health Tracking Network/Portal

New York City’s Action Plan: 2010

Fall/Winter 2010

Department of State Division of Licensing Services issued new bedding regulations

Bed Bug Disclosure Act

Action Plan Across the Country: 2010

Bed Bug Summit in Washington DC (February 2011)

Environmental Protection Agency

Center for Disease Control

Federal Bed Bug Groups

The Bedbug Registry

There’s an app for that!

Reference

Goddard, J. and DeShazo, R. Bed Bugs (Cimex lectularius) and Clinical Consequences of their Bites. JAMA 2009; 301 (13): 1358-1366

Potter, M. et al. Bugs without Boards-Executive Summary: Defining the Global Bed Bug Resurgence

Recommendations for the Management of Bed Bugs in New York City. New York City Bed Bug Advisory Board. Report to the Mayor and City Council. April 2010.

Stop Bed Bugs in Hotels Safely. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/vector/bed-bug-hotel-eng.pdf

Preventing and Getting Rid of Bed Bugs Safely. http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/vector/bed-bug-guide.pdf

Brody, Jane. Keeping Those Bed Bugs from Biting. 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/14/health/14brod.html

THE END: DON’T LET THE BED BUGS BITE