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ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH |
Bed Bugs(This information in taken from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene fact sheet on bed bugs.) What are bed bugs?Bed bugs are small insects that feed on human blood. They are usually active at night when people are sleeping. Adult bed bugs have flat, rusty-red-colored oval bodies. About the size of an apple seed, they are big enough to be easily seen, but often hide in cracks in furniture, floors, or walls. When bed bugs feed, their bodies swell and become brighter red. They can live for several months without food or water. What does a bed bug bite feel and look like?Most bed bug bites are initially painless, but later turn into large, itchy skin welts. These welts do not have a red spot in the center like flea bites. Are bed bugs dangerous?Although bed bugs are a nuisance, they are not known to spread disease. How does a home become infested with bed bugs?In most cases, people carry bed bugs into their homes unknowingly, in infested luggage, furniture, bedding, or clothing. Bed bugs may also travel between apartments through small crevices and cracks in walls and floors. How do i know if my home is infested with bed bugs?You may notice itchy skin welts. You may also see the bed bugs themselves, small bloodstains from crushed insects, or dark spots from their droppings. It is often hard to see them because they hide in or near beds, other furniture, and in cracks. For additional information visit the following pages: |
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Quinnipiack Valley Health District |
Phone. (203) 248-4528 |
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Disposal (Septic)