Bed Bugs

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are small, brownish, parasitic insects about the size of an apple seed (1 mm to 7 mm in length) that bite people and animals while they sleep to get blood for food. Bed bug infestations usually occur near the areas where people sleep and therefore typically come out a night to bite. They can hide during the day in places such as seams of mattresses, box springs, bed frames including the head board, and inside cracks or crevices.
Bed bugs are found in all types of locations, from five-star hotels to homes and apartments, dormitories, and shelters around the world. Some people living in infested homes have reported mental health impacts including anxiety and insomnia. Thankfully, bed bugs are not known to spread diseases and generally, their bites do not require medical attention. If the bites do cause severe reaction, or you are experiencing anxiety and insomnia because of the infestation, talk to a health care professional.

Recognizing an infestation

Your first obvious sign might be a bed bug bite. If you have a bite and want to verify if you have bed bugs, check for signs of an infestation which include:

  • A sweet, musty odor.
  • Reddish or rust colored stains on bed sheets, sleepwear or nearby objects. This is what bed bugs excrete after eating (bed bug feces).
  • Bed bug exoskeletons (the skeleton they shed after molting).
  • Live bed bugs in the folds of bedsheets, mattresses and box spring.

Preventing an infestation

Bed bugs are often introduced in the home by people bringing in used furniture and used clothing. They can also be brought home in your suitcase after travelling or into your car after helping a friend move. Here are some ways you can reduce the chances of bringing bed bugs into your home:

  • Reduce bed bug hiding places. For example, eliminate clutter.
  • Check items that you bring into your home especially used or second-hand items, working in someone else's home or travelling. When you return from a trip, follow the tips described on the Public Health Agency of Canada website.
  • Check your home regularly for bed bugs.

For a complete list of ways to prevent a bed bug infestation in your home, visit Health Canada’s how do I prevent an infestation website.

Dealing with an infestation

Bed bugs can be *very* hard to get rid of, as they can live without feeding for a long time. They can be easily moved from one room to another on objects but cannot fly or jump and they have a hard time climbing smooth surfaces. If you do have bed bugs, it is strongly recommended that you hire a licensed professional pest control operator, as licensed operators can identify them and control them. The pest control operator will usually give you specific instructions to prepare for an inspection or pest control treatment.
While you wait for licensed pest control there are things you can do to control the infestation such as thorough vacuuming, steam cleaning, drying clothes at high temperatures, reducing clutter and sealing cracks and crevices. For more information about controlling and eliminating bed bugs, visit Health Canada’s Bedbugs: how do I get rid of them? web page.
You can also reduce bed bug bites by "making your bed an island". 

Make you bed an island

Reduce bites right away by isolating the bed.

  1. Get rid of clutter in your room.
  2. To kill the bed bugs and eggs, place bedding and pillows in the dryer on a hot setting for at least 30 minutes.
  3. Pull your bed away from the wall and curtains, and leave it in the centre of the room.
  4. Vacuum your mattress and box spring very well with the vacuum's crevice tool. Make sure to go over seams, handles and buttons. This will remove bugs found on the surface.
  5. Vacuum your bed frame and headboard including areas where there are screws and fasteners.
  6. Throw away the vacuum bag contents in a sealed plastic bag and place it in an outdoor garbage can.
  7. If there are cracks or holes in your bed frame, apply some caulking to prevent the bugs from getting in.
  8. Place your mattress and box spring in a zippered mattress cover.
  9. Do not use bed skirts as the bed bugs will use them to climb back into your bed.
  10. Keep bed sheets and blankets tucked in so they do not touch the ground.
  11. Cover the feet and legs of the bed frame with petroleum jelly (Vaseline). This will make these surfaces slippery and will prevent the bugs from climbing into your bed. Clean the legs and apply a new coat of petroleum jelly as needed.

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Information for tenants and landlords

As a tenant you are responsible for preventing bed bug infestations. Use the precautions listed in the section “Prevent an infestation”. If you are experiencing a bed bug infestation notify your landlord, superintendant or property manager verbally or in writing of the infestation so they can take action right away.

It is the landlord's responsibility to maintain the rental unit so that it is fit for habitation. As well, it is the tenant's responsibility to cooperate with the landlord to help manage the bed bug problem. Tenants should allow the landlord a reasonable amount of time to resolve the bed bug issue as it may involve more than one pest control treatment.

Whether you are the owner or tenant, follow the pest control operators’ instructions regarding how to properly prepare for pest control treatment. Each step is essential for the pest control treatment to be effective.

If the infestation is unresolved, contact the City of Ottawa by calling 3-1-1 to report the problem to Bylaw and Regulatory Services (Property Standards). They will determine if additional options are available.

The Landlord and Tenant Board is the authority to settle disagreements between tenants and landlords and can assist the both the tenant and landlord with their rights and responsibilities under the Ontario Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. The Landlord Tenant Board can be reached online or by telephone (1-888-332-3234) Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.

What options are available to a landlord dealing with bed bugs in their rental unit?
  • Use licensed pest control services to treat the unit.
  • Seal cracks and crevices between baseboards, 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)

 What workers are at risk of occupational exposure to bed bugs?

Bed bugs can be found anywhere that humans live or visit, however, they are more commonly found in sleeping areas. Workers at risk include people who work in, or visit, locations with bed bug infestations, especially workers that handle bedding, clothing, or furniture where bed bugs could be hiding.

Workers potentially at higher risk include fire fighters, health care professionals, housing management and staff, police, and social workers that work in or visit:

  • Hospitals
  • Long-term care facilities
  • Shelters and rooming houses
  • Hotels and motels
  • Residences (for example, multiunit dwellings)

Can I pick up bed bugs by touching someone in an infested location?
No, bed bugs prefer to hide in cracks and crevices during the day and do not fly or jump onto people. It is rare for a bed bug to move directly from one person to another. Movement of bed bugs from one human to another is usually by direct contact with infested materials.

How can I protect myself from picking up bed bugs while I am working?
  • When entering a potentially infested location, bring in only what you need and avoid placing items close to walls and furniture. Don’t leave belongings on bedding materials, clothes, or furnishings.
  • If you bring in belongings (for example, computer bag or purse) place them in sealable plastic containers in centre of room.
  • Do not handle bedding material or furnishings in sleeping areas unless required.
  • Avoid sitting down on furniture or leaning on walls.
  • If dealing with wheelchairs or stretchers, check these regularly for bed bugs.
  • Consider changing into work clothes and shoes when arriving at work and removing them before going home (when there is a risk of infestation). Whenever possible workers should leave work only clothing at work and if possible, do their laundry on site. Clothing items should be kept in a sealed plastic container (includes sealable plastic bags).
  • If you discover your home has become infested, report the infestation to your supervisor or employer to allow other workers to take necessary precautions.
  • In the case of a severe infestation and where you must enter a location, consider wearing hooded poly-propylene suits (coveralls), shoe covers, and gloves. Note: This kind of personal protective equipment (PPE) may not be appropriate in certain settings, or when working with certain patient or client populations.
  • PPE use depends on what you are doing (for example, handling potentially infested mattresses or furnishings) as opposed to just entering location to speak to clients or to administer services.

What can I do after leaving a potentially bed bug infested location?

  • Inspect your shoes, clothing, equipment, and other belongings after leaving. Shake clothing and shoes before entering any vehicle.
  • If there are any concerns that you picked up a bed bug, remove clothing (on hard-floored surface) and seal in plastic bag.
  • If you find a bed bug on you, kill it.

What is Ottawa Public Health’s role?

Public health inspectors are available to answer questions pertaining to the information on the Ottawa Public Health bed bug web page.

Note: Public health inspectors will not visit for the purpose of identifying bed bugs.

Resources  
For more information about how bed bugs live and feed, visit Health Canada’s Bedbugs - what are they? web page.

 

 

 

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