By Alan Lytle
Lexington, KY – A contracted exterminator for the University of Kentucky says his crew will be at the UK Student Center Friday to treat a sitting area where some bed bugs were found earlier this week. Donnie Blake, with OPC Pest Control of Louisville, says bedbug infestations are rapidly on the rise in this part of the country.
"I've been in this business for forty years and have never seen a pest take over like this. Prior to 2003 we had done one bed bug treatment. This year we will do over 5,000 bed bug treatment and inspections."
Blake says bed bugs can become a problem anywhere and anytime.
"Any given day in a public place if someone has bed bugs at their home they could introduce them anywhere. Whether its a college campus, a healthcare facility, a library, there's always potential for an introduction. The key is awareness and education."
Blake says the way to kill bed bugs and their eggs is through extreme heat. The crew will crank up their equipment as high as 120 degrees to guarantee their extermination.