"...bedbugs are not associated with the transmission of any human disease, the CDC has said."

Apparently the cure (pesticide) is worse than the bite.

Punchline, right here: "Additionally, the woman had applied the pesticide directly to her hair and skin." Say no more.

The story does not identify the insecticide(s) and/or the cause of sickness and the one death. I had to do significant searching on the web to find the answers. The death involved a North Carolina woman. "The lone death was a 65-year-old woman from Rocky Mount who had a history of heart trouble and other ailments. She and her husband used nine cans of insecticide fogger one day twice within three days without opening doors and windows to air out their home afterward."

The CDC and the US-EPA have to realize that bedbugs are a serious problem. Prior to 2000, a single treatment with chlorpyrifos (Dursban) would eradicate a bedbug infestation. (Chlorpyrifos was removed from indoor use in 2000 because of concerns about exposure to children.) Without a properly labeled effective insecticide for bedbugs, people are misusing the insecticides that are available. Chlorpyrifos should be brought back, labeled for crack, crevice, and bed frame use for bedbugs. (This should minimize exposure to children and still allow effective control of bedbugs.)

Insecticide bombs (foggers) are nearly worthless in the control of bedbugs, are dangerous, and should be banned.

I'm not surprised...just this week my son started getting mysterious (what we think) are bug bites...we've searched and searched but have come up with nothing...we don't know what it is, but we are concerned it could be bed bugs.

We called a local company...$100 just to come take a look! THEN, if our house needed to be treated it would be $1,000...and they would probably have to do it more than once!

So, expect bed bugs to get worse and for more of these kinds of things to happen...not many people can afford a price tag like that.

If you can, just go ahead and spend the money, get the heat treatment for bedbugs (heat will kill the bugs and the eggs) rather than using pesticides, then do a proper clean-up afterwards (thorough washings, zipping items up to prevent future infestations, etc.). Do what scientists and exterminators KNOW works rather than endangering your health over what is basically just a nuisance insect.

Sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite.

That's pesticide related illness not because of the bedbug bites themselves. Nice misleading headline. Bring back Malathion. Pesticides are POISONS and we know which ones work and Boric acid doesn't! (We don't have bed bugs, we have roaches. <3 out to people dealing with both.)

There is a natural alternative for bedbug control, diatomaceous earth. It has successful been used by many people to get rid of bedbugs. http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/ProductCart/pc/Diatomaceous-Earth-Food-Grade-p39.htm

Are you crapping kiding me! "applied it to her hair and skin"? What kind of idiot would even think of doing such a thing?

These are the same kinds of people who travel and stay in hotels and bring those nasty things with them in their luggage and then spread the joy around.

I am betting that if they were that bad the whole house and contents were infected. Sounds like a skit from hoarders.

Diatomaceous earth is a non-poisonous substance that kills insects by destroying their carapace and dehydrating them. It's comparatively cheap, simple and effective. Why aren't more pest control companies using it in the bedbug battle? We're poisoning our water, air, and food supply because chemical producers have conditioned people to think toxic chemicals work better than more natural substances.

Thanks to those who suggested the D.E. product, 'food grade' available at Amazon.com. Years ago, I was told by a rural couple that sprinkling used coffee grounds around your foundation would get rid of ants...worked. Wish I had saved my copies of Mother Earth magazine from the 70s. :)

The woman and her husband can't read and comprehend. THey have no research skills. They have no curiosity. They could have read the label and know not to use it that way. Had they ever read books and magazines in the 60+ years of life they would have a body of knowledge and known not to do that. Unless they are certified with a learning disability they literally killed her with stupidity and laziness. IF they are certified with a mental disability it's a shame they were living without help yet allowed to acquire and maintain dangerous chemicals. We have had two nationally reported shootings with mentally deficient people getting access to guns. Could this be another case similar to those ?

Call Billy the Exterminator !

He gets the job done right the first time !

Call Billy the Exterminator !

He gets the job done right the first time !

I can tell you folks that i have treated over 200 cases of bed bugs commercially and yes diatamacious earth works but only in conjunction with about 5 other restricted use pesticides. Yes heat works but only in conjuction with about 5 other restricted use pesticides, If you think you can go grean with this problem good luck with that. Even treating with the maximum doses allowed by law I have seen bed bugs with chemical resistance and still being treated a year later if re-introduction is occuring. by the way 1,000 is cheap. we charge 700.00 a room.

You must call Billy the Exterminator !

He gets the job done right the first time !

There is an increasing problem with patients showing up to ER's and being admitted with inpatient needs having signs of bed bugs. As an ex-pestcide worker I will tell you too many companies try to take short-cuts and will use unqualified workers to do applicating. Professional applicators carry enough liabilty to cover themselves so most know how to read labels.

Bedbug battle leaves dozens sick, one dead

After reading that headline I was worried that dozens of innocent bedbugs had been injured or killed in this senseless war.

We should go back to using DDT. It was very effective and any health effects would be delayed.

i am in new york city often and i fear the filthy hotels and movie theaters. even the dressing rooms at macys have had bed bugs. yuck!