Pest Lessons: Bed Bugs and Public Health Implications

While bed bugs are not known to spread disease, their impact on physical and mental health cannot be understated. Residents with bed bug bites can suffer sleep deprivation and bites that are scratched open have the potential to become infected. Bed bug infestations – whether real or imagined (delusory parasitosis) – also can give residents anxiety or cause other psychological issues.

In the following webinar, sponsored by MGK, Dr. Zach Devries, assistant professor of entomology at the University of Kentucky, reviewed bed bug biology and behavior, discussed known bed bug health effects and potential emerging threats.