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Bedbug infestation Saturday routs apartment resident

Local health officials find Cole Manor apartment, resident crawling with bloodsucking pests.

Clark County Combined Health District officials find live bedbugs crawling on a couch at a Cole Manor apartment, Saturday, Aug. 15. The infestation was the worst that local health officials have seen, said Dan Chatfield, director of environmental health. Submitted photo

Bill Lackey Clark County Combined Health District officials find live bedbugs crawling on a couch at a Cole Manor apartment, Saturday, Aug. 15. The infestation was the worst that local health officials have seen, said Dan Chatfield, director of environmental health. Submitted photo

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By Kelly Mori, Staff Writer 8:50 PM Saturday, August 15, 2009

An infestation of bedbugs at a Burnett Road apartment complex is the worst local health officials have seen, the county’s director of environmental health said.

Health officials on Saturday, Aug. 15, responded to a report of a Cole Manor resident who was covered with bedbugs. When health officials arrived “on every surface we saw signs of babies, eggs and adults,” said Dan Chatfield, Clark County’s director of environmental health.

“We asked the resident to remove his shirt,” Chatfield said. “We took eight to 10 bedbugs off his body.” The man, who also had bugs in his shoes, was covered with bites. He told health officials it was difficult for him to sleep because of the bugs.

“The good news is that bedbugs are not known to transmit disease,” Chatfield said.

Health officials covered furniture with plastic, sealed it with duct tape and hauled it away. Other items were laundered and a mattress pad was placed over the mattress, which, along with every other surface, was vacuumed clean of the bugs, Chatfield said.

The health district has received an increase in bedbug complaints this summer. Chatfield attributes it to warmer weather, which encourages hatching.

Officials do not know how the bugs were introduced but said that used furniture is a common cause. They were unable to gain access to another apartment reported to be infested.

Health officials will meet with Metropolitan Housing on Monday to determine how to control the infestation, Chatfield said.

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Sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite
If they do, hit 'em with a shoe
Or in this case lots of shoes!

flipper
12:20 PM, 8/17/2009

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taxpayer do you know something that DJFS doesn't?Sorry to tell you this but I have had some college and returning to take more courses.Also,to educate you,SSI is for the LOW INCOME disabled even if they worked or not or put their lives on the line.SSD is Social Security Disability.OH,and taxpayer are you a Psychiatrist also?You must be.Open your eyes and look around,unless you are the uptight and uneducated person you show yourself to be.Please come stay over night here and enjoy the life!

A
12:18 PM, 8/17/2009

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Maybe you shoule educate yourself! SSI isn't for people who has worked all there life, that would be SSD! And another thing, I pay work and pay my taxes and if they are going to home people who can't afford it, that is just fine with me! People like you are just heartless!

people are stupid!
12:05 PM, 8/17/2009

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A: "No such thing as welfare"? Are you nuts or just ignorant? Get a clue and EDUCATE yourself before you make stupid comments - unless you're uneducable.

I know a person on SSI who also uses the excuse that "I WORKED all my life and they OWE it to me" yet they make plenty of tax free CASH and are scamming the rest of us claiming a non-existant "mental" disability. You think the SS system like a bank account? Typical.

SSI is FULL of fraudsters - I wouldn't doubt that you're one too.

taxWASTERS
7:26 AM, 8/17/2009

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Dear Taxwasters, do you not know there is no such thing as welfare anymore?I live on Social Security Disability. Did you pay my taxes? I do not think so. Our veterans who fought for your freedom as well as mine, putting their lives on the line live here to. Are you a vet that is rich?? If so then something odd is going on. Now, I do agre with the SMHA sucking people dry. We do NOT live here for free! I pay my rent. Who pays yours? Did you take that tax incentive? UH HUH
Peace be with you

A
12:06 AM, 8/17/2009

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