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Published - Sunday, April 13, 2008

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Officials: Bedbugs rare in La Crosse for now


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La Crosse County does not for now appear to be plagued by bedbugs, but Health Department officials expect a resurgence in the future.

Other communities in Wisconsin and other parts of the Midwest have seen bedbugs move in, said Jim Steinhoff, an environmental health specialist for 21 years with the county health department.
“We’ve not had a lot of real bedbug problems yet, but they’re probably coming,” he said. “It’s just a matter of time.”

County health officials did deal with a major bedbug infestation last year at a high-rise residential apartment complex, after a resident bought a used mattress, Steinhoff said.

“The bedbugs affected an entire floor, and they had to treat and knock down the walls at a huge cost,” Steinhoff said. “It can be a nasty problem.”

Bedbugs have enjoyed a resurgence because today’s pest-control measures are not adequate to eradicate them, he said.

“Due to the dangers of pesticides like DDT to humans, pest control measures are more targeted today, and we no longer spray chemicals which used to kill all insects,” Steinhoff said.

International travel has compounded the problems, he said.

“People are traveling all over the place and are carriers of the bedbugs in their luggage,” Steinhoff said.

That’s why, Steinhoff said, he leaves his luggage in his cold garage after a winter trip to kill any bedbugs that might have hitched a ride to his home.

Terry Rindfleisch can be reached at (608) 791-8227.
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Cards wrote on Apr 17, 2008 7:25 AM:

" Smokers smell honestabe, so quit smoking, clean up and the bugs won't get you! "

HonestAbe wrote on Apr 14, 2008 8:15 PM:

" LOL, whaaaaaa (go make love to yourself)

whiner "

Cards wrote on Apr 13, 2008 8:25 PM:

" Keep smokin' honestabe, it is good to kill your bugs and you won't live long,I am an anti-smoker, so choke on your lung cancer......thanks for giving it to non smokers (not)....... "

Wizard wrote on Apr 13, 2008 2:52 PM:

" If you are ever lucky enough to get to stay in the hospital and medical cells in LaCrosse County Jail in the basement, you might run into this lovely insects. That is were I saw my first one while being held there on traffic charges. After an extensive investigation by the LaCrosse County Dectective Bureau and subsiquent analysis it was concluded that they made their way from Judge Perlich's office or came from one of Chip DeNures suits while visiting one of his inmates on probation violations. "

HonestAbe wrote on Apr 13, 2008 1:05 PM:

" Wheezer, I wouldn't want anyone to have to deal with this ... at first I thought it was spiders, then found a dead one and had it identified, scared me. Took over a month before I'd trust sleeping in bed again, even after spraying and washing everyhing.

Well, I may wish them on anti-smokers that impose their wants on business owners *grin* "

HonestAbe wrote on Apr 13, 2008 1:02 PM:

" Krusty, Cards, LOL

No, I don't do barflys ... they whine about me smoking LOL "

Cards wrote on Apr 13, 2008 12:07 PM:

" honestabe the honest bug crab man........ "

Krusty wrote on Apr 13, 2008 9:14 AM:

" Honest Abe, you probably caught a different sort of bug...Crabs. You can get those from certain women downtown. "

Wheezer wrote on Apr 13, 2008 5:41 AM:

" Thanks for sharing that with us, HonestAbe. I hope that I never have to use that information! "

Honestly wrote on Apr 13, 2008 5:39 AM:

" I hope the resident was fined, isn't illegal to sell a used mattress? "

HonestAbe wrote on Apr 13, 2008 12:57 AM:

" Malathion 50 kills 'em, you can get the chemical and sprayer at Ace locally, I did. "

HonestAbe wrote on Apr 13, 2008 12:46 AM:

" I had this problem a few years back ... went to Ace, bought the proper chemical to kill them (Ace guys will look it up) ... and I spray the bedroom about every 6 months with no more problems.

The same chemical kills spiders and others, so I spray the entire outside of building, as well as all joints and cracks in my bedroom. They're nasty.

Just something you have to stay on top of, especially if you are a renter.

They hide in cracks, doesn't matter if the mattress is new or used, although buying a used one could bring the problem, but buying a new one will not solve it. "


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