Bed Bug Infestation in Government Offices: How to Prevent?

Bed bugs are not only becoming a problem in our homes but are now becoming a huge problem in public establishments. Most recently, government buildings of Canada fell victim to bed bugs in Gatineau, Ottawa and Winnipeg. But why is this so scary? People fear bed bugs for 2 reasons:

1. The thought of a bed bug sucking your blood while you sleep
2. Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to get rid of if left undetected

HOW TO DETECT BED BUGS

Recent bed bug incidents in government buildings

Bed Bugs at Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada

Among the recently reported bed bug sighting is in the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada building In Gatineau. After detecting bed bugs on all floors in the building, it was forced to shut down and employees were sent home. Some employees were able to work from home, others dealing with more sensitive information were required to return to work and enter the building. At the time we write this article, treatment is still ongoing. Read more about this incident here.

350 King Edward Avenue Dealing with Bed Bugs and Cockroaches

Another government building dealing with bed bugs and even cockroaches is at 350 King Edward Avenue. They have just treated bed bugs, and recently sprayed for cockroaches. The kitchenette was closed and treated for cockroaches while three floors and 18 workstations were treated for bed bugs.
Aside from treatments, special traps were also used to monitor bed bug activity. An anonymous employee said that pests were not new to them as there were previous bed bug infestations reported in the building as early as 2018 Workers were moved to new workstations during treatments. Read more about this incident here .

Canada Revenue Agency in Winnipeg

Another bed bug issue confirmed at The Canada Revenue Agency in Winnipeg. Union of Taxation Employees confirmed that bed bugs have been discovered over the past months.
Though the number of bed bugs and eggs were far from being considered an infestation, both employers and workers want to be sure no bed bugs are lingering. Learn more about this issue here.

These incidents have not only affected the daily operations of our government offices but have also affected the well-being of employees. Bed bugs are a feared pests for a reason, but the earlier you detect them, the easier it is to get rid of them.

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Why Detect Bed Bugs?

There are a few important reasons why someone, especially those working in these government offices, would want to detect bed bugs at home

Some people don't have any reactions to bed bug bites. So you might not know you have bed bugs until a full-blown infestation

Detecting the presence of these critters earlier rather than later allows you to act fast and increase your chances of getting rid of them for good

Unattended, bed bugs can wreak havoc on your lifestyle and personal well-being

90% of bed bug cases are of low infestation, meaning only a few bed bugs; however, left undetected will grow into a nightmare of a problem

How to detect bed bugs?

Though bed bugs are among the hardest pests to detect, they can still be seen with the naked eye, about the size of an apple seed when fully fed (filled with blod). Take a look at our bed bug identification page to find their hiding spots. The key to a successful eradication is early detection. Here at bedbugsos.ca, we recommend three products for long-term and efficient detection.

Bed Bug Volcano

The Sensci Volcano is a bed bug monitoring product that can help in detecting bed bugs in any environment.

Conveniently place them next to legs of furniture or bed, next to bedside tables, couch, or any area where bed bugs are possibly hiding.

Make it more effective by turning it into an active monitor with the Sensci Activ Bed Bug Lure. This will make bed bugs come out of their hiding places and catch them before they can reach you.

Bed bug Interceptors

Interceptors work like a barrier against these pesky critters. You can place them under the legs of furniture but is most effective under the legs of your bed. We have many different sizes of interceptors to suit your needs.

Unlike other interceptors, the ones from bedbugsos.ca don’t use talc and are safe to be used around kids and pets. They work discreetly in monitoring the activity of bed bugs as they try to get their blood meals from you. Here is a link to our bed bug interceptor comparison page.

Surge and Refills

Another highly recommended bed bug detector is the Surge Protector with Lure. The Surge bed bug detector looks like an ordinary power bar and emits heat that will attract bed bugs out of their hiding places.

Place these around your home without anyone suspecting it as an active monitor. It comes with a glue trap placed inside, which will prevent bed bugs that climb in from escaping and moving to other hiding areas.
Buy the CO2 attachment to increase effectiveness and replaceable glue traps for continuous detection

Shop SenSci products

Shop all bed bug Interceptors

Shop all bed bug Surge products

Conclusion

With the continuous spread of bed bugs, one must learn how to detect the presence of the bugs as early as possible. Remember that bed bugs are not only found in homes but also common in public establishments.

The use of effective bed bug detection products is one way to prevent an impending full-blown infestation from happening. In addition, knowing how to prevent bringing bed bugs home from these public places will also benefit you and your family from an infestation.

If you are an employee of the government in one of these buildings, we highly recommend you use detectors to avoid greater infestations. It is also a good idea to have all your coworkers actively detecting bed bugs also. Remember, bed bugs do no discriminate (clean or dirty) and getting rid of them is extremely difficult. For that reason, always be on the lookout and let you office neighbor know about the various ways you can detect bed bugs.