Acute bed bug pesticide-related illnesses reported in at least seven states, including New York, California, Florida; CDC cites heat treatments as effective alternative for killing bed bugs

Michelle Rivera

VENTURA, California , October 24, 2011 (press release) – Heat treatments, such as those administered by industry leader ThermaPureHeat®, have been recognized in a recent Centers for Disease Control report, as an effective alternative to pesticide treatments in the growing war against bed bugs.

The use of pesticides, often a first treatment methodology used to kill bed bugs, is proving to be an increasing health risk to many humans. According to the September 23, 2011 edition of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (Volume 60, No. 37), acute bed bug pesticide-related illnesses have been reported in at least seven states, including New York, California, Florida, Michigan, Texas, Washington and North Carolina – the latter, of which, had one fatality reported due to pesticide poisoning.

According to the report, pesticide-related illnesses have been caused after chemical treatments conducted by both individual consumers and professional pest management companies. In fact, the CDC report notes that among the cases of work-related illnesses, three involved workers who applied pesticides, including two pest control operators.

At the same time, the CDC noted that heat treatments, like the type administered by industry pioneer ThermaPureHeat®, “effectively control bed bugs” as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. ThermaPure licensees heat single rooms or entire structures to at least the minimum 118 degree Fahrenheit (for a minimum of one hour) guideline cited by the CDC. The heat penetrates deep into a structures cracks and crevices to kill bed bugs and their eggs where they are hiding, especially important since many bed bugs do not stay just on bedding. ThermaPureHeat® treatments may include the use silica natural mineral gels or powders to serve as a migration barrier for any reintroduction of bed bugs.

“For many years I have advocated integrated pest management to minimize the use of pesticides in our homes in order to protect our families. That’s why I co-founded ThermaPure®” said David Hedman, CEO of Ventura, California-based ThermaPure®. “The latest CDC report clearly demonstrates that the use and misuse of chemicals to kill bed bugs is having a very negative health effect on humans, which can be completely avoided by using chemical-free heat treatments like ThermaPureHeat®.”

Also troubling is the CDC’s evidence that pesticide-resistant bed bugs are on the rise and have been confirmed in at least five states, including California, Florida, Kentucky, Ohio and Virginia. Since the CDC report data only covered the 2003-2010 time period, it’s entirely possible that the pesticide-resistant bugs may now found in several additional states as well as Canadian provinces.

“Bed bug populations and infestations are increasing in the United States and Internationally. Bed bugs have an increased prevalence of insecticide resistance, including resistance to commonly used agents such as pyrethroids,” stated the CDC report.

About ThermaPure®
ThermaPureHeat® (http://www.thermapureheat.com) and its affiliated trademarks and patents are owned by ThermaPure, Inc., 180 Caňada Larga Road, Ventura, California. David E. Hedman, the Stanford-educated co-inventor, along with co-inventor Michael R. Linford, Ph.D, a pest control pioneer from Ashbourne University in London, provided access to scientists across North America to study the technology, which is now registered with the California Environmental Protection Agency. ThermaPureHeat® is now available to consumers through one of the company’s many US and Canadian licensees. The technology is being very effectively used in single family homes, hotels, apartments, condos, hospitals, nursing homes, medical labs, offices, industrial and government buildings.

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