Canada: Plague of Bedbugs in books alarm BC libraries
5 views
Skip to first unread message
Pastor Dale Morgan
Oct 27, 2011, 10:44:01 AM10/27/11
to Bible-Pro...@googlegroups.com
Plagues,
Pestilences and Diseases
Canada: Plague of Bedbugs in books alarm BC libraries
By Elaine O'Connor, The Province October 27, 2011 4:07 AM
Libraries love bookworms, but book bugs? Not so much.
British Columbia: Lower Mainland libraries are advising the public to report bedbugs found in loaned books after a New Westminster library shut its doors for a day for pest control. The library reopened Wednesday at noon after an inspection by bedbug-sniffing dogs, a steam cleaning and heat treatment after bugs were found in certain books.
Two libraries in Burnaby dealt with the pests earlier this month when the bugs were detected at its Metrotown and Cameron street branches. The locations were treated and library staff are now checking each book for the bugs as they are returned.
New Westminster city Coun. Jaimie McEvoy says municipalities need a clear plan to deal with infestations in public spaces.
"It's the first time we've had them in New West, but it's not going to be the last time," McEvoy said. "I would say that every library should check [for bedbugs] on a regular basis. It's not just a one-time thing. It's part of life now.
"There is a public health issue there, in most cases a relatively minor public health issue, like lice, but they can carry infections."
McEvoy will introduce a motion to council Monday calling on the Fraser Health Authority to develop a bedbug strategy.
But Fraser Health spokesman Roy Thorpe-Dorward said that while Fraser Health is happy to help New Westminster or any area municipality formulate a bedbug management strategy, it would not create a regional strategy as bedbugs are a nuisance, not a public health risk.
Meanwhile, two of the largest library systems in the region, the 22-branch Vancouver Public Libraries and the 25-branch Fraser Valley Regional Libraries say bedbugs have not been a significant problem.
"We have been very lucky so far, but I think it's a matter of time," said FVRL CEO Rob O'Brennan. "We have developed policies and procedures if it ever comes up." He said anyone discovering a bedbug in a book should seal it in a bag, call the relevant branch to report it and bring in the sealed book for disposal.
VPL spokeswoman Jean Kavanagh asked anyone finding a bedbug in a book to call and report it at 604-331-3603 and then throw the book out on their own.
Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/health/Bedbugs+books+alarm+libraries/5614258/story.html#ixzz1bzeMiDdI
Canada: Plague of Bedbugs in books alarm BC libraries
By Elaine O'Connor, The Province October 27, 2011 4:07 AM
Libraries love bookworms, but book bugs? Not so much.
British Columbia: Lower Mainland libraries are advising the public to report bedbugs found in loaned books after a New Westminster library shut its doors for a day for pest control. The library reopened Wednesday at noon after an inspection by bedbug-sniffing dogs, a steam cleaning and heat treatment after bugs were found in certain books.
Two libraries in Burnaby dealt with the pests earlier this month when the bugs were detected at its Metrotown and Cameron street branches. The locations were treated and library staff are now checking each book for the bugs as they are returned.
New Westminster city Coun. Jaimie McEvoy says municipalities need a clear plan to deal with infestations in public spaces.
"It's the first time we've had them in New West, but it's not going to be the last time," McEvoy said. "I would say that every library should check [for bedbugs] on a regular basis. It's not just a one-time thing. It's part of life now.
"There is a public health issue there, in most cases a relatively minor public health issue, like lice, but they can carry infections."
McEvoy will introduce a motion to council Monday calling on the Fraser Health Authority to develop a bedbug strategy.
But Fraser Health spokesman Roy Thorpe-Dorward said that while Fraser Health is happy to help New Westminster or any area municipality formulate a bedbug management strategy, it would not create a regional strategy as bedbugs are a nuisance, not a public health risk.
Meanwhile, two of the largest library systems in the region, the 22-branch Vancouver Public Libraries and the 25-branch Fraser Valley Regional Libraries say bedbugs have not been a significant problem.
"We have been very lucky so far, but I think it's a matter of time," said FVRL CEO Rob O'Brennan. "We have developed policies and procedures if it ever comes up." He said anyone discovering a bedbug in a book should seal it in a bag, call the relevant branch to report it and bring in the sealed book for disposal.
VPL spokeswoman Jean Kavanagh asked anyone finding a bedbug in a book to call and report it at 604-331-3603 and then throw the book out on their own.
Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/health/Bedbugs+books+alarm+libraries/5614258/story.html#ixzz1bzeMiDdI
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages