Bed bug infestations in the United States have increased by 71 percent since 2001, according to the National Pest Management Association. And, bed bugs don’t discriminate based on location or socio-economic status. Infestations have been reported in large urban areas and small rural towns.

To help prevent bed bugs from infesting and ruining a mattress, it’s a good idea for all people, especially those who travel regularly, to invest in mattress and box spring encasements like those offered by Protect-A-Bed. Encasements are different than mattress protectors, in that they fully surround the mattress and include a zipper and seal. An encasement protects new and old bedding and aids in the early detection of bed bugs. And, should bed bugs be detected, encasements will assist in managing the infestation.

So, how do mattress and box spring encasements help with a bed bug infestation? Well, bed bug proof encasements make the tell tale signs of bed bugs – fecal spotting and blood spots – readily identifiable. The signs appear easily on the white fabric of the encasement, which allows individuals to easily spot them and quickly alert a pest control professional. By identifying the signs of bed bug activity as soon as possible, it allows the infestation to be addressed and eliminated in a timely manner, before it gets out of hand.

Also, many encasements that claim to be bed bug proof are available in the marketplace, so it’s important to investigate whether or not the encasement has been scientifically tested to be effective against bed bugs. Protect-A-Bed was the first company to identify the need for bed bug proof mattress and box spring encasements, and the first to have its products verified by an independent laboratory to be bed bug proof.

In order for an encasement to be effective and considered bed bug proof, it must be both bite-proof (meaning that the bugs cannot feed through the material) and entry and escape-proof (meaning that the bugs cannot get in or out of the encasement after it has been installed). Unless the encasements have been specifically designed for bed bugs, it is very unlikely that they will work effectively.

Protect-A-Bed offers Bed Bug Protection Kits for customers that have everything they need to proactively manage their bed bug infestation risk. Each Bed Bug Protection Kit includes the following:

• 1 Allerzip 6-Sided Mattress Encasement
• 1 Bed Bug Proof Box Spring Encasement
• 2 Allerzip Pillow Protectors

Bed bugs are a nuisance that don’t appear to be going away any time soon. But with the right proactive measures, individuals can mitigate their risk. And, it all starts with encasing your bedding.

Do you really know bed bugs?

Want to know more?

Then register NOW for the premier Bed Bug University North American Summit 2010, presented by BedBug Central.

September 21 – 22  | Chicago, IL

Don’t miss out on the largest gathering to date of industry vendors, bed bug service providers and premier bed bug entomologists and practitioners!

BED BUGS!

Do you know how to eliminate them? How to prevent and manage infestations? What treatments are proven to work? When to use chemicals, heat or other methods of elimination? How about your rights, responsibilities and risks in treating and managing bed bugs? What business models work and what ones don’t

Come to the BedBug University North American Summit to find out about the latest research, protocols and products. Whether you are a Pest Management Provider, part of an in-house Pest Management Team or responsible for facilities like Universities, Hotels, or Military, multi-family or group homes, you will come away from this two day seminar knowing bed bugs.

There will be in-depth examinations of various topics in a novel and fresh format with an unprecedented line-up of academia and industry interacting to provide you with all you need to know. You will hear from the experts, learn from vendors and share knowledge with other professionals in a neutral, open-to-all setting.

BedBug University North American Summit 2010 will have an unprecedented speaker line-up of 14 of the leading bed bug experts in North America including:

Michael Potter, University of Kentucky Kenneth Haynes, University of Kentucky Richard Cooper, Bed Bug Central Jody L. Gangloff-Kaufmann, Cornell Wayne Walker, University of Florida

Josh Benoit, Yale University Dini Miller, Virginia Tech Coby Schal, North Carolina State University Changlu Wang, Rutgers University Christian Hardigree, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Peter Trentacoste, Northern Kentucky, University Stephen Kells, University of Minnesota Phil Koehler, University of Florida Rudolf Scheffrahn, University of Florida Jeffrey White, Bed Bug Central

We know it can be difficult to get away — but THIS conference is well worth your time! Come join us and the rest of the industry at BBU North American Summit 2010.

And just when you thought those stinkin’ blood suckers couldn’t sink any lower! Bed bugs are now invading the purest of summer traditions — summer camp. Check out this piece from Cincinnati’s WXIX TV on bed bugs. And watch the video closely — you’ll get a quick glimpse of our Protect-A-Bed mattress encasement. That’s because whenever there’s a bed bug outbreak, there’s a Protect-A-Bed product nearby. We’re a favorite product of a ton of pest control operators across the country.

The state of Michigan has launched a website to help its residents learn more about bed bugs. According to an Associated Press article on the subject, the website is geared to help “renters, homeowners, facility managers and other governmental agencies.”

Our take: considering that it seems that many organizations are still in denial about the scope of the bed bug plague, it’s encouraging to see states take proactive steps to educate the public and other governmental agencies about bed bugs and the best ways to manage them.  When it comes to a thoughtful bed bug management strategy, education comes first. The more we know, the more we can stop bed bug infestations in the early stages, before they get out of control.

Go take a look at Michigan’s site and let us know what you think. We’d love to hear your feedback.

It’s good to see organizations that take bed bugs seriously. Take for example Kings County Hospital which shut down a portion of its emergency room after a bed bug was found. According to the article, bed bugs don’t prefer hospitals because there’s too much movement, but that doesn’t mean they can’t hitchhike home with you in a jiffy.

We salute the Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn for taking the time to shut down one room to make sure a small bed bug problem never had the chance to escalate into a big bed bug problem. I’m sure it give a little peace of mind to the hospital’s staff and patients that they’re being proactive on this issue.

Entomologist Jeff While from Bed Bug Central gave a great shout out to Protect-A-Bed and a ton of excellent tips on Fox 5’s Good Day New York program. Check out the video below. Thanks Jeff!

Yikes. And you thought you could at least go out and get some new jeans without the threat of a bed bug infestation…

Silly you.

Various media outlets are reporting that after a recent bed bug outbreak in NYC’s flagship Hollister store, there’s now a bed bug outbreak at an Abercrombie & Fitch store. Yowser. Both stores are owned by the same parent company. Talk about bad luck for the company and its customers, who are probably frantically searching for bed bugs in their homes about now.

Just goes to show you that bed bugs will go wherever the people are. I know we say it all the time, but it’s true. No place is safe from the bed bug plague, even your favorite source of trendy clothing.

Tune in to Around the World Radio tomorrow (July 1, 2010) to listen to Bed Bug Central’s Rick Cooper offer travel tips to help you avoid bed bugs on your next vacation.  You can listen in live on the web at 1:20 p.m. ET/12:20 p.m. CT,  or if you’re in the Santa Barbara area, tune in to AM 1290 KZSB.

You can expect to hear information from Rick about how to check your hotel room for bed bugs, how to unpack from your trip carefully so you don’t bring bed bugs in your house, and what products can assist you in avoiding your own bed bug plague.

Big news for renters in New York: If you’re lucky, landlords will soon have to disclose a building’s history of bed bugs to potential tenants. The New York state Senate and Assembly both passed a bill requiring just that, and now it’s up to Governor David Paterson to sign the bill, but that could take several months.

This bill was proposed by Assemblywoman Linda B. Rosenthal, who explains the issue in depth on her Facebook Page.

This is a great step for renters in New York, which has been hit particularly hard by the bed bug plague. But while you New Yorkers are waiting for the law to be signed, if you’re on the hunt for a new apartment, make sure you ask your landlord about the building’s bed bug history. And, protect yourself. While bed bugs can live in all upholstered furniture, the majority still congregate near the bed where they can get meals easiest. All renters should consider investing in mattress and box spring encasements.

…but we’ll just call it a sign of the times.

Goldman Sachs was treated for bed bugs recently, according to an ABC News story.  Whether the company really had a bed bug problem isn’t clear, but it is a good reminder that bed bugs are amazing hitchhikers, and they’re happy to feast on anyone — from investment bankers to average folks like you and me. To bed bugs, all blood meals are equal.

After you check out the story, watch the embedded video. It’s got some great general information on the state of the bed bug epidemic in the United States.