NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Connecticut Coalition Against Bed Bugs (CCABB was founded last year under the leadership of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, to address bed bug issues in Connecticut. The CCABB is chaired by Dr. Gale E. Ridge and is represented by Station entomologists, local health departments, DEP, department of public health, and justice to address environmental, health, and legal aspects of the bed bug problem.

According to Ridge, CCABB’s mission is: To train and support health professionals (including health departments), housing professionals (including housing authorities), and pest management professionals in the state of Connecticut; provide information on pest management practices including integrated pest management (IPM); provide and seek funding for public education, support scientific research, and provide legal advice and assistance to citizens of Connecticut.

CCABB ran three successful bed bug forums in the past year reaching out to health departments, pest control professionals, charities, the hospitality industry, housing authorities, and landlord tenant entities.  Currently CCABB is engaged in bed bug control research, production of a health department staff training video, and the writing of a bed bug handbook.   A recent publication, “Bed bugs how to deal with them”, has been popular because it is in tri-fold format and portable.  It can be found at www.ct.gov/caes under the “bed bugs” icon.