Bed Bugs Cases Explode To Epidemic Scale In NYC
By STEPHANIE BARISH wpix.com

2:57 p.m. EDT, August 16, 2010
NEW YORK (WPIX)—
A recent survey of pest control companies found bedbugs are now prominently invading commercial businesses -- such as offices, clothing stores and hotels -- rather than private residences.

PIX 11 News first reported in May that New York City was quickly climbing to the top of the list of having the biggest bed bug problem in the country.

In fact, at the time PIX 11 News found million dollar Upper East side homes riddled with the blood sucking creatures. In addition, President Bill Clinton also had bed bugs infesting his Harlem office.

Jeffrey Eisenberg, an employee at "Pest Away" said bed bug complaints to his office were up more than 100% since 2004. He said he was dealing with at least 40,000 customers a week who were dealing with the pesky critters invading their homes and offices.

In July, popular teen clothing store Hollister was forced to close its flagship store in SoHo due to bedbugs infesting certain parts of the store. A few days later, parent company Abercrombie & Fitch closed its store located at South Street Seaport after discovering a bedbug infestation.

Both stores were immediately closed for extermination and shortly reopened after the problem was found.

PIX 11 News discovered on August 5, a growing bed bug problem in the New York Public Library's Mid- Manhattan branch located on 40th Street. An employee told PIX 11 News a co-worker was bitten by a bed bug in early July, while checking out books for a patron at the circulation desk, and other bugs have been spotted since.

However, a library official adamantly denied the claims and made clear there was no cause for alarm.

"We have found two bed bugs at the circulation desk. That's it," said NYPL spokesperson Gail Snible. "We do not keep finding bed bugs."

The city says the bugs, which are the size of apple seeds, are posing huge problems for rich and poor alike, in East Side penthouses and housing projects. The city's "311" helpline received nearly 34,000 calls last year, seeking information about bed bugs. Inquiries are up 54 percent from the year before.

The city's Department of Health said people should not worry as bedbugs do no present a health risk or spread disease.

Experts say international travel may be the cause for the reason epidemic. People pick them up in foreign countries and since bed bugs are "excellent hitchhikers" that can live over a year without sucking your blood. Other causes may also include: organic chicken farms, lack of awareness and education, and a drop in routine spraying.