QUESTION:

What is going on with bed bugs and MRSA? Is it just another media sensational story or a real threat?

ANSWER:

My oh my the power of the news media. This morning when I reviewed the daily batch of internet news articles pertaining to pests I saw at least a dozen separate media proclaiming this terrible new "possible" threat to our health. For those who may not know what MRSA is, it stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, which is the so-called "flesh eating" bacteria. It also is a very real and very serious health threat, as it is a virulent bacteria that is resistent to antibiotics and which has the capability of causing major damage to human bodies and organs.

The gist of this latest news is that a single study done in Canada focused on bed bugs taken from impoverished locations, and on 3 of the 5 bed bug samples they found MRSA on the bugs. The study made NO conclusions and made NO statements that this, therefore, meant bed bugs could vector MRSA to humans, but only that the bugs are clearly able to carry the bacteria on their bodies. The news media, however, printed rather sensational headlines about it, and I posted a couple of the daily articles on PestWeb in our Pests In The News on 5/12. Heaven only knows how many will be available tomorrow. It is VERY important that our industry NOT use this current panic to drum up business. We need to stick to the facts, which are only that this bacteria has been found ON bed bugs, but no evidence exists that the bugs have or are capable of transmitting it to humans.

I recall very well back in the early 1980's when AIDS was the major health news, and headlines in this country were blaring that bed bugs had been "found" carrying the AIDS virus, and therefore, obviously, must be capable of spreading it. Last year we heard the same things about Swine Flu. The fact is that MANY different pathogenic microorganisms have been found on and within bed bugs, but the Common Bed Bug still has NEVER been shown to be capable of vectoring them to humans. I think this is important enough to copy below the response that the NPMA produced today - 5/12/11 -  on this issue. Thanks for asking about it Bill.

From the NPMA - Background:

Yesterday the Center for Disease Control and Prevention published the results of a peer-reviewed study that suggests bed bugs may be involved in disease transmission. The study, conducted in an impoverished community in Vancouver, British Columbia, tested a small sampling of bed bugs (5) collected from several patients (3) who were hospitalized for unstated causes.  Hypothesizing the bugs were vectors for "the transmission of antimicrobial drug-resistant pathogens" researchers performed tests which found the bacteria Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) present in the collected pests.   Marc Romney, one of the study's authors, noted "even though this is a small study, it suggests that bed bugs may be playing a role in the transmission of MRSA in inner city populations where bed bug infestations are a problem."

 

Since the release of yesterday's report, as of last night, more than 450 news articles had been published about the study.  We expect this study to reignite the bed bug fever within the national and local press.

 

The National Pest Management Association has reviewed the report and found that it leaves many questions unanswered.  We do not plan to fuel this conversation and public fear by promoting news coverage of the survey.  Comments from NPMA will cite the study as one of the many examples of why additional, scientific research on bed bugs must be conducted.  We encourage members to refrain from comments suggesting that bed bugs may contribute to the spread of MRSA or other diseases.

 

Statement for Member Use:

Since the resurgence of bed bugs in the 1990s, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has been advocating for funding for research on bed bugs, including most recently at the EPA's Bed Bug Summit, the Congressional Bed Bug Forum and through direct visits with Members of Congress.  With the dramatic resurgence of this pest and the lack of basic biological data available consistent with today's scientific standards and practices, it is imperative we better understand more about the biology and habits of the pest.  According to a study conducted by NPMA, one in five Americans has now come into contact with bed bugs directly or indirectly through friends or family members. Scientific research on the pest will better equip pest management professionals to control bed bugs efficiently and effectively.  

 

Talking Points

• Many pathogens have been found to be associated with bed bugs, however, no evidence has been uncovered (including the results found in this particular study) indicating that bed bugs can transmit disease to humans.  This is why additional research continues to be a great priority. 
• Only in recent years has research ramped up on this pest and there is still much work to be done regarding scientific research on the biology of bed bugs.
• More than 95% of pest professionals reported treating bed bugs last year; up from fewer than 25% of professionals in 2000.
• 76% of pest professionals believe bed bugs are the most challenging pest to control.

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