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 For Immediate Release
       March 11, 2008
      Revised December 30, 2008
                                                                                    Contact: Constance L. Cherry
                                                                                    Public Information Officer
                                                                                    (973) 266-4003

The City of Orange Township Department of Community Services
Urges Greater Awareness of Bed Bug Infestation

(Orange, NJ)—In a greater effort to inform residents about issues relevant to quality of life matters, the Township’s Department of Community Services Health Division, with the assistance of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS), is making the following recommendations regarding the resurgence of Bed Bugs.
 
What are bed bugs?   They are small insects that feed on the blood of mammals and birds. Adult bed bugs are oval, wingless and rusty red colored, and have flat bodies, antennae and small eyes.  They are visible to the naked eye but routinely hide in cracks and crevices. When bed bugs feed (usually at night when people are sleeping), their bodies swell and become bright red. They are not considered dangerous or known to spread diseases.  They are given to cause allergic reactions from their saliva in sensitive people.  Their lifespan is 10-15 months.  They can survive for months without feeding.

In most cases, bed bugs are transported from infested areas to non-infested areas when they climb onto someone’s clothing or crawl into luggage, furniture or bedding that is brought into homes. They nests in warm places and find habitat near beds and in  bedroom furniture, in the tufts, seams, and folds of mattresses and daybed covers.  In more acute cases, they may be found in headboards, picture frames and are also known to hide in piles of books, papers and boxes.  If bed bugs are present, one may notice itchy welts on the skin; blister-like skin inflammations; groups of small, swollen sacs of pus and skin rashes similar to hives.

How can bed bugs be eliminated?  The NJDHSS recommends that homeowners hire a pest control professional to evaluate what type of pest is present. Some of the things you can do yourself include: placing mattresses and furniture outside for several hours when the weather is colder than 25 degrees.  Temperatures below 25 degrees will freeze and kill bed bugs.  Wash all bedding, draperies and clothing in hot water (97 F) on a regular basis; vacuum and steam-clean carpet.  Use insecticides with “pyrthrins” labeled for household use. Never use a cockroach spray, ant spray or any other pesticide product that does not list bed bugs on the label for beds.  Also, caulk holes in floors and walls and never bring discarded bed frames, mattresses, box springs or upholstered furniture into your home.  Throw way and replace an infested box spring if necessary.  Finally, use waterproof zippered mattress covers for at least one year.  The covers are labeled “allergen rated” or “for dust mites.”