The Oklahoma City-County Health Department has an aggressive bed bug abatement program for apartment complexes, hotels and motels. When our office is notified of problems with bedbugs in any of these facilities an inspector is sent to the location to determine the complaint’s validity and to assist the owners of the property in taking the appropriate action to rid the facilities of this pest. Private owners and renters of single family dwellings can contact our office for information in regards to elimination of bedbugs, but our inspectors will not visit these locations to determine whether bedbugs exist in their home or not. It is important to remember that no transmission of human disease has been linked to bedbugs and as such are not technically a public health hazard; they are a nuisance pest only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, flat, parasitic insects that feed solely on the blood of people and animals. Bed bugs are reddish-brown in color, have inoperable wings, range from 1mm to 7mm (roughly the size of Lincoln’s head on a penny), and can live several months without a blood meal.
Q: How do I know if my home has bed bugs?
Look for:
- Small blood smears on bedding, sofas, walls, behind head boards and night stands
- Tiny dark spots on your sheets, mattress or box spring which are their fecal droppings
- Dried remains of shed bed bug skins
Q: Do bed bugs spread disease?
Bed bugs should not be considered as a medical or public health hazard. Bed bugs are not known to spread disease. Bed bugs can be an annoyance because their presence may cause itching and loss of sleep. Sometimes the itching can lead to excessive scratching that can sometimes increase the chance of a secondary skin infection.
Q: How did I get bed bugs?
Bed bugs are transferred from place to place as people travel. The bed bugs travel in the seams and folds of luggage, overnight bags, bedding, furniture, and anywhere else where they can hide.
Q: Who is responsible for bed bug treatment?
The landlords are legally responsible for the treatment or removal of the tenant in multifamily dwellings. In single family the tenant is responsible to control pest and rodents.
Q: Where do bed bugs hide?
Locate all possible places that the bed bugs might be hiding. Bed bugs can be found:
- In crevices
- Under, inside and behind all furniture
- In seams and around piping on mattresses
- On walls, pictures, curtains, and mirrors
- On clothing, luggage, and in closets
- Edge of carpet
- Behind bed headboards
- Behind walls
Q: How can I eliminate bed bug problem?
Bed bugs are very difficult to get rid of because they are hard to find and kill. Making your home bed bug-free will take time and effort from you, the housing manager (if the home is a rental unit) and a pest control company.
The best way to eliminate bed bugs is early detection, regular cleaning and inspecting, and targeted pesticide use by a pest management professional. This includes regular cleaning and vacuuming, steaming to kill bed bugs, laundering and drying clothes on high heat.
To file a bed bug complaint please call (405) 425-4331, or you may fill out our online complaint form.