The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Bed bug cases increase locally
Poor can’t afford expensive treatments for pesky bugs
Bed bug cases in Lorain County are increasing and only getting worse, according to a county exterminator.
Dale Pluck, owner of Dale’s Pest Control in Vermilion, said he and his business partner Wayne Miner are treating an average of 10 to 15 bed bug cases in Lorain County a week.
“It’s getting even worse,” Pluck said. “The bed bugs are just rampant. Between kids going to school, moms going to this house and that house ... everybody’s just traveling soldiers for these bed bugs.”
Sheffield Lake City Councilwoman Rosa Gee also voiced concerns for the lack of options low-income residents and veterans who are struggling with bed bug problems.
Gee, who also is a veteran’s advocate, has begun collecting donations and providing information
to help those who are impacted by bed bugs.
“The majority of the vets are low-income and living in apartments or older homes, and they don’t have the resources, the means, they don’t have the income for treatment,” she said.
Gee said she is advocating for free programs and services for those who can’t afford expensive exterminator costs.
“If my older vets, older seniors and low-income families
with children come to me with issues, there should be some central place where people can pick up bed bug spray,” she said.
Pluck said although some companies’ services in the area often average $700 to $800 for treatment, some can reach as high as $2,000.
Pluck and Miner charge $200 for the first bed bug treatment.
The second treatment, which Pluck highly recommends, comes with a 50
percent discount.
Pluck also gives senior citizens a 10 percent discount.
“We treat their home as if it was our own,” he said. “We’re not the company that takes the money and runs. We sit people down so they’re fully aware of situations and what they need to do.”
Further protocol also must be followed after treatment, such as frequent vacuuming, keeping guests to a minimum and washing
clothes daily, Pluck said.
Pluck also said people should be sure the exterminators they hire are licensed, as unlicensed exterminators can do more harm than good.
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, although bed bugs do not carry diseases, excessive itching the bites leave can lead to secondary skin infections. Bed bug bites also can cause anxiety and insomnia, the agency says.