NYC & The Bedbugs
 

A segment on the Today Show this morning regarding the Nevele in Ulster County reminded me of the bed bug problem I read about earlier this year in NYC (and I'm not talking about shabby, run down establishments, the hotels that were infested were moderate + to upscale). I was wondering if anyone knew if this problem was still running rampant or if it had been brought under control (which I realize is no easy task). And no, this is not a troll post!

Bedbugs "running rampant" in NYC? Really? Where do you get your news from?
If so, it's surely the best kept secret of the year!

Howard, it was hardly a secret. MSNBC carried a story in January, and it even hit our local news.

Gosh, Howard. Where have you been? Put bedbugs in NYC in your search box and go to town. Here's just one
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/conten...ta_talk_singer

Grantop, I haven't heard much about it recently but doesn't mean it's gone.

And, before you have any more snide repsonses, you might want to look at this article that was in the NYT, aparently they know about what you call "the best kept secret".
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/27/ny...ab&ei=5088
I wish I had kept a reference on the Jan. 2006 story I read because it specifically discussed hotels . .

Mclaurie, thanks for you response - glad someone is paying attention out there! I haven't heard anything lately either, but I guess hotels and apartments don't want to advertise that the bugs have been dealt with because then they would have to admit they had them in the 1st place!

Before I am totally crucified, may I point out that I was only reacting to the use of the phrase "running rampant." Sure there have been incidents of bedbugs, and perhaps it is on the rise, but "running rampant"???? I don't think so. Let's not exaggerate the situation!

I saw that story on the Today Show. That poor woman.........the pictures were gross.

"NYC and the Bedbugs". Didn't I see that rap group perform on the Oscars?

Howard, the problem had more than doubled. But in all fairness maybe that's not a big deal to you and that's fine, to each their own. I thought it was humorous though that you didn't even believe there was a problem (i.e. your first post on this thread) simply because YOU were not aware of it. I know you make significant contributions here, but maybe you should get off your pedestal and read a newspaper? And I used the term "running rampant" because it is common knowledge that this problem spreads quickly and is very difficult to control. The NYC problem was not restricted to run down, shabby properties, the bugs didn't discriminate!

Cute, Patrick!

Frist of all, grantop, enough with the personal insults!
I never said I wasn't aware of the bedbug problem. I just don't think that "running rampant" is the most accurate description of the situation.
Sure, it's problem in New York, but so are drugs, which is a bigger problem. And, I wouldn't say the drug problem is running rampant!

Ok Howard, I apologize for posting this morning and a apologize for my description of a problem that the exterminators deemed difficult to control. Next time, I will try to choose "nice" words so I don't offend or make something sound like it is an unpleasant situation. I am sorry that I brought up a problem that has been in the news lately and has affected residents & visitors alike. I am sorry that you did not read about it in advance. You asked where I got my news from and I gave you an answer. I am sorry that I was slightly offended when you insinuated that I made this up and if it was true it was "surely the best kept secret of the year"

I will now return to reading fun, happy posts about which seat is best in the theater, and which resto in Times Square is the most non-touristy.

Sarcasism is not becoming to you!

oh good lord, let it go!

I am sorry I brought this up . . .

I don't mean to fan the flames here, but this story was on Channel 5 (Fox, I am embarassed to report it was on in my house) last night. Also, not to be funny, but in the assisted living in Manhattan where my mother lives, her neighbor bought a new mattress that was infested and the bugs got all over the apartment and it was a nightmare!

ekscrunchy you're not fanning the flames, thanks for posting. Was the new matress the neighbor bought one of the "reconditioned" ones? I read something about those and I believe there was a connection. Sorry to hear this happend to her, I hope she was able to get rid of them.

They finally got rid of them but she had to have the apartment fumigated twice and the place was in an uproar wanting her to throw out ALL her furniture. I guess they were afraid that it would spread to the other apartments. I think she got the mattress from one of those dealers who advertise a lot..you know who they are.

By the way, again not to be funny or provoke anyone, but this SAME place, which by the way is a very "fancy" residence for seniors here in Manhattan, has closed their dining rooms because they say there is an epidemic of "Norovirus" here in the City. I have not read anything about this but I know they have had it on cruise ships. I guess they are being very cautious but still......wierd.

Patrick?

bugswife too. and no way related to bedbugs. hi michelle!

Hey! Good to "see" you guys! :))

Patrick? *The* Patrick?

And bugwife too?

Hey the gangs all here!
Woo!

But if bedbugs in 4-5*,
what are the alternatives to avoid?

Here's some excellent info on bed bugs--far more than you probably ever wanted to know! :P But it does help identify them, and gives signs and visuals of what to look for in/around mattresses. http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/ent...ruct/ef636.htm

I rarely agree with HowardR (especially regarding Wicked) but "running rampant" does seem a bit over the top. I saw the segment on the Today show and the thing that seemed very strange to me is the woman RETURNED TO THE HOTEL TWO WEEKS LATER! She said it was because of a contractual obligation her husband had to speak at that location again - but if I were filing a lawsuit for MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, you wouldn't find me back at the same place ever - much less two weeks later. Something just doesn't seem right.

Emergency room visit = back again in two weeks? Very strange. Very strange.

I don't understand the NYC part of this post's title. That seems a bit alarmist as well. The woman was not staying at a NYC hotel.

Welcome back, Neopolitan. You have been missed.

Hi Starrsville, you didn't read my post carefully, I said the Today Show story reminded me of the articles I read about regarding NYC's problem, I never said the woman on the Today Show stayed in NYC, I said she stayed at the Nevele in Ulster County. I wanted to know if the NYC problem had been brought under control and was berated by Howard because he didn't know there was a problem (therefore it didn't exist) and then said I blew it out of proportion. From everything I read, there was a very significant problem, and the exterminators were having a extremely difficult time brining it under control. I thought people here would be interested in it because the problem was not limited to dumpy properties - this was a problem in nice, upscale Manhattan hotels. This post, (with the exception of a few comments) quickly lost it's focus.

But hey, thanks to Howard trying to type when he was angry, we all have a new word to use: "Sarcasism"

I did read your post. I understand that you opened with the Today show segment and tied it to a problem you had read about earlier this year in NYC. Got that. My opinion stands.

Hi Starrsville, thanks for the response. I didn't mean to elaborate, but I thought that you didn't understand the NYC part of my post title and I tried to explain - oooh sometimes I hate having a discussion on these threads - much easier to actually talk to in person! Thanks for contributing though :)

A more appropriate title would be "Catskills and The Bedbugs" but I doubt that would draw as much attention - hence my opinion that the post title is alarmist. Yes, I am aware that bedbugs do exist and are reported in 5 star properties as well as budget accomodations - but would not call it "running rampant" by any stretch of the imagination.

LOL, <i>Sarcasism</i>
One catches it from posting often on certain travel boards. The only cure is going Cold Turkey for a week at least and getting plenty of fresh air.

Or so the doctor said ~

oh good Scarlett! Maybe Howie will try that be cured!

Still say something is not right with the Nevele woman's story. Ya sue for 20 million dollars but go back only two weeks later? I promise you I'd CAMP before I'd go back. There's at least 20 other options (hotel / B&amp;B) within 10 miles of the Nevele. Something is fishy.

And Howard made a typo. Whatcha gonna do? Sue him for $20M?

What is happening with bedbugs is the same thing happening to human germs - they are becoming resistant to the usual pesticides (antibiotics for human germs) used to zap them. In addition, many of the insecticides that are wonderfully toxic on bugs, also seem to be toxic to humans - so they are banned.

Also, as commerce of goods and travel of humans increases, bugs travel too (is there a travel board on which they post?).

In Massachusetts there was a recent newspaper article in which someone suggested a ban on putting used mattresses in same truck with new mattresses. What happens is people buy a new mattress, sometimes because of the little critters, and the mattress company service of removing your old bedding, puts the used mattress right next to the nice new ones - so the next customer gets an unwanted living gift.

I think we have no way of knowing how much this problem is increasing - I am sure that many people have returned from trip to find weird bug bites on their bodies (some questions about same posted here). Many did nothing - took some Benadryl, used hydrocortisone and wondered about mosquitoes.

Now that media has publicized problem, everyone says &quot;bedbugs&quot; really loud to all their friends. And those unfortunate enough to be especially sensitive to these bites or unlucky enough to get a really gross mattress, show up on TV.

Let the lawsuits begin!

Gail, intersting information, thanks for sharing it. Someone commented on another forum that they wondered how much of this was covered up by the hotel industry simply becasue, let's face it, it's not good PR!

Starrs, I was joking with Howie about the typo - he is addicted here just like the rest of us.

Well, that's....&quot;intersting&quot;.

...&quot;simply becasue&quot;....

We definitely need the ability to edit our posts on this forum!!!

grantop, please don't refer to me as &quot;Howie.&quot; Only my friends do that!

This topic was discussed tonight on Dateline NBC; they mentioned several hotels here that have had &quot;issues.&quot; Super 8 and Crowne Plaza were two of them. It seems that it is a worldwide epidemic that may be getting worse. A nightmare!

Now if we get a bed bug that carries the avian flu.....

I saw the same report, ekscrunchy.
I think Gail's post accurately
describes the situation.
But now, how to avoid?
Buy / sleep in one of those
sheet bags? (or whatever
they're called!)