Bed Bug Infestation at NYC Victoria's Secret
There has been quite a bit in the news lately about bed bug infestations and one thing is clear, these bugs do not discriminate on the basis of socio-economic status. From a suit filed over an alleged bed bug infestation at a Hilton Hotel, to student apartments in Portland, OR, the bugs are not picky. Now they have decided to bug a Victoria's Secret on New York's posh Upper East Side (Lexington Avenue and East 58th Street).
The Harvard School of Public Health website defines bed bugs as small wingless insects that feed solely upon the blood of warm-blooded animals. The bugs feed on their preferred hosts generally at night, while these hosts are asleep, and painlessly sip a few drops of blood.
According to New York Magazine, the VS store had to close July 14th, after an infestation was discovered in a small portion of the store. The company acted quickly to destroy effected merchandise before re-opening the same day.
Victoria's Secret had two weapons in its fight against the encroaching creatures. First, the presence and then absence of the bed bugs was determined by bug sniffing dogs. According to New York Magazine, bedbug expert Timothy Wong, technical director of M&M Environmental, says the dogs are perfect for sniffing out a infestation in a relatively confined area such as that bugged in the VS store.
Once found, the creatures were killed with cryonite, which freezes and kills the pests. Wong says this is a solution that works best with a limited bed bug infestation. A larger one, such as an outbreak in a hotel, must rely on on-going checks as a way to prevent or catch an infestation.
Timothy Wong suggests washing any recent purchased clothes before wearing. Even if bed bugs are not an issue, germs might be.
Related Resources:
- Victoria's Secret Catches Bed Bugs (NBC New York)
- Bed Bug Infestations, Bed Bug Lawsuits On the Rise? (FindLaw's Injured)
- Bed Bugs (Bed-Bugs.org)
- Personal Injury (FindLaw)
- Personal Injury FAQ (provided by Popowski, Callas & Shirley)
- Personal Injury - An Overview (provided by Law Offices of Michael M. Kaplan, P.C.)