Bedbugs can be a challenge to address if they make their way into your house or business. Sarah Taddeo
Cincinnati has been named to another list and it's not a good one – according to pest control company Orkin, Cincinnati is sixth on the list of 2018 Top 50 Bed Bug Cities.
The Queen City jumped two spots on the list from last year based on the number of new bed bug treatments that Orkin performed in each metro area from Dec. 1, 2016, to Nov. 30, 2017. Orkin said Cincinnati saw a 9.1 percentage increase in bed bug treatment from 2016 to 2017.
It could be worse, Cincinnati once topped the list. Back in 2011 it was the worst city for bed bugs, according to Orkin's list that came out in early 2012.
At the end of 2017, two residences in Cincinnati were accidentally set on fire when residents tried to get rid of bedbugs.
In December, a woman trying to kill bed bugs accidentally set a multi-family home ablaze in Avondale. Three people were taken to a hospital and 10 were displaced from the residence on Hutchins Avenue. Damage was set at $250,000.
In November, a 13-year-old boy trying to kill a bed bug set an apartment fire that displaced eight people and caused $300,000 in damage.
More: Avondale woman accidentally sets home on fire trying to kill bedbugs
More: Boy trying to kill bedbug sets fire causing $300K damage
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, bed bugs are a public health pest but are not known to transmit or spread disease.
Here are the worst cities for bedbugs, according to Orkin:
- Baltimore
- Washington, D.C.
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- Columbus
- Cincinnati
- Detroit
- New York
- San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
- Dallas-Fort Worth
“The number of bed bug infestations in the United States is still rising,” said Tim Husen, an Orkin entomologist. “They continue to invade our homes and businesses on a regular basis because they are not seasonal pests, and only need blood to survive."
Here's how the EPA suggest people take care of bedbugs:
- Keep the Infestation from Spreading
- Anything removed from the room should be placed in a sealed plastic bag and treated.
- Items that cannot be treated should be placed in a sealed plastic bag and left for an extended period of time to ensure any active bugs are dead.
- Empty the vacuum after each use and seal the bag and throw it out in an outdoor trash container.
- Kill the Bed Bugs
- Make sure the methods you select are safe, effective and legal.
- Consider non-chemical methods of killing bed bugs. Some will be more useful than others.
- Heat treatment using a clothes dryer on high heat, black plastic bags in the sun or a hot, closed car.
- Cold treatment can be successful in the home environment if the freezer is set to zero degrees. You must leave the items in the freezer at that temperature for four days.
- Look for EPA-registered pesticides, bed bugs must be listed on the label.
- Use foggers only with extreme care. Improper use can harm your health or cause a fire or explosion.
- Evaluate and Prevent
- Continue to inspect for presence of bed bugs, at least every 7 days, in case any eggs remained.
Learn more about bed bugs and how to get rid of them, visit the Environmental Protection Industry.
Enquirer media partner fox19 contributed to this report.