Illinois is facing a significant bed bug problem, with several cities grappling with infestations. Here are five Illinois cities combating a bed bug onslaught:
1. Chicago
Chicago has earned the dubious distinction of being the worst city for bed bugs in the United States for the fourth consecutive year.
The city tops Orkin’s list of the 50 worst bed bug cities, highlighting the severity of its infestation problem.
2. Champaign
Champaign has also been severely affected by bed bugs, ranking 10th on Orkin’s list of cities with the worst bed bug problems.
This represents a worsening situation, as Champaign moved up from 11th place in the previous year.
3. Peoria
While Peoria has shown some improvement, it was previously listed among the top 50 cities with bed bug problems.
Although it has fallen off the most recent list, the city’s history with bed bugs suggests ongoing vigilance is necessary.
4. Springfield
Although not explicitly mentioned in the search results, Springfield, as the state capital, is likely dealing with bed bug issues given the widespread nature of the problem in Illinois.
5. Rockford
Similarly to Springfield, Rockford, as one of Illinois’ larger cities, is probably also contending with bed bug infestations, even though it’s not specifically cited in the provided information.
Combating the Infestation
To address this widespread problem, Illinois has implemented several measures:
- Chicago Bed Bug Ordinance: Passed in 2013, this ordinance outlines responsibilities for landlords and tenants in addressing bed bug infestations.
- Education: Landlords are required to educate tenants about bed bugs by providing informational brochures.
- Prompt Action: The ordinance mandates that landlords must have units inspected within 10 days of receiving a bed bug complaint.
- Professional Pest Control: Landlords must hire licensed pest management professionals to inspect and treat infestations.
- Condominium Regulations: Condominium associations are required to have written plans to address bed bug issues.
- Disposal Guidelines: The ordinance prohibits the disposal of bed bug-infested items unless they are sealed in plastic bags and labeled.
- State-wide Efforts: The Illinois Department of Public Health provides guidelines on bed bug detection and control.
These measures aim to combat the bed bug onslaught in Illinois cities through a combination of legislation, education, and professional pest control services. However, given Chicago’s persistent top ranking in bed bug infestations, it’s clear that continued efforts and possibly new strategies are needed to effectively address this pervasive problem.
Source
- https://b100quadcities.com/illinois-most-bed-bug-infest-cities-chicago/
- https://b100quadcities.com/illinois-has-2-of-the-most-bed-bug-infested-cities-in-the-u-s/
- https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/its-not-just-paris-chicago-tops-list-of-americas-worst-bed-bug-cities/3334611/
- https://www.iheart.com/content/2024-01-25-illinois-city-tops-list-of-worst-cities-for-bed-bugs-in-the-us/
- https://landmarkpest.com/bed-bug-ordinance/