Bed bugs plague Saskatoon residents

But the SHR does not have very good data on the subject, he said.

“What people usually get from bed bugs is a rash. They look quite a bit like mosquito bites, insect bites of any kind,” said Findlater.

Typically, the first time someone is exposed to them there is a bit of a delay in the bite developing, so the redness may appear a week to 10 days after the actual bite, explained Findlater.

Because the bugs are taking blood, questions often arise about the spread of diseases. But Findlater said there have been many studies on the subject and it does not appear to be a concern.

He said that bed bugs are more of a nuisance than a threat, but there can be psychological side effects.

“People that have them in their house will have trouble sleeping and definitely worry about them,” Findlater said.

“It does put your family into huge chaos,” said James, about her bed-bug experience.

It took the Saskatoon mom several months to get the infestation under control.

“Nothing can be in the place where it’s supposed to be, everything has to be in Ziploc bags. That part of it is a lot harder than people realize,” she said.

For many, the chaos is much more extreme.

“We were able to afford to bring in the exterminator — we were able to afford to stay elsewhere… I could take days off of work, we had family support to take the kids,” said James, who counts herself as lucky.

For Angela Chatsis, the stress is very real.

“It’s creepy! I barely sleep at night. I wake up at all different hours of the night.

“I go to work five days a week and barely sleep. I am always tired, it really does affect your life,” said the frustrated renter.

Her apartment on Appleby Drive has had an infestation since October.

“Before I even leave anywhere, I make sure to have a nice hot shower, inspect everything that I’m wearing, so that I’m not walking out of my suite, spreading it around,” said Chatsis.

For more than three months, she has not been able to use a dresser or closet. All of her bedding and clothing has to be washed at a Laundromat and sealed in plastic bags.

Chatsis said she called the maintenance line with Northern Property apartments to report the infestation in October.

She said the exterminators came twice, but the bugs were never completely removed.

“They don’t want to do anything about it, they don’t want to pay a certified exterminator to actually get the job done the way it’s supposed to,” Chatsis said.

“They’ll treat my suite, but they won’t do the neighbours or anyone,” she said.

In an email to News Talk Radio, Robert Wawryk with Northern Property REIT apartments said there is an aggressive treatment process in place.

“We have a grid system that involves treating ground zero which is the reported apartment, apartment on either side, above, below and across apartment,” he wrote.

He added that all units were recently inspected to ensure that any unreported situations could immediately be dealt with.

“Treating the apartments remains a high priority until the issue is resolved.”

It can be a lengthy and complicated process to permanently get rid of the pests, Findlater said, especially in multi-unit dwellings — the reason why landlord and tenant co-operation is key.

Bed bugs can also be picked up in hotel rooms and brought home. Travelers who want to avoid the headache should inspect their beds in the hotel, suggested Findlater. He added that keeping luggage away from the mattress will lessen the chance of bringing back hitchhiker bugs.

“Although they don’t actually transmit diseases, they are pretty disgusting looking, so there is social stigma around them,” said Findlater.

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by paNOW

Bed bugs plague Saskatoon residents

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