Main Content:
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are small, flat, wingless insects about the size of an apple seed. Bed bugs can infest areas where people sleep and rest. At one time, bed bugs were almost eliminated from the United States. Recently, Scott County, as well as many other communities across the country, has seen an increase in bed bug activity.
Bed bugs bite sleeping people and animals to feed on blood. Although bed bugs are a pest, they do not spread disease. While bed bugs do not pose a significant risk to public health, they can cause emotional stress, anxiety, insomnia, and allergic reactions from the bites.
For more information about bed bugs, how to prevent them, and what can be done about them, visit these resources.
Resources:
- Iowa Department of Public Health Bed Bugs Fact Sheet (PDF)
http://www.idph.state.ia.us/eh/common/pdf/board_of_health_assistance/factsheet_bed_bugs.pdf
- Iowa Department of Public Health: Healthy Homes Initiative
http://www.idph.state.ia.us/eh/healthy_homes.asp
Topics Include: Guidance on bed bug management; Bed Bug Identification and Remediation; Bed Bug Biology, Treatment and Pesticides; and Bed Bug Information for Tenants, Landlords, Shelters and Schools. - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Bed Bugs
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/Topics/bedbugs.htm
Topics Include: Bed Bug Infestation in Urban Environments; Integrated Pest Management; Bed Bugs 101; Bed Bugs Control Strategies; Bed Bug FAQ; Guidelines for Bed Bug Prevention and Management in Shelters and Group Living Facilities; Stopping Bed Bugs in Hotels Safely; Traveler Q&A and more.
