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A CODE OF PRACTICE
For the Control of Bed Bug
Infestations in Australia

Click on the front cover below to download
the Second Edition of the Code of Practice for the Control of Bed Bug Infestations in Australia

Click here to download the list of modifications made to the Second Edition of the Bed Bug Code of Practice

Click here to download all the submissions to the Draft Second Edition of the Bed Bug Code of Practice

Click here to download the Draft Second Edition of the Bed Bug Code of Practice

Please send all comments on the Second Edition of the Code to Stephen Doggett (Stephen.Doggett@swahs.health.nsw.gov.au).

 

Preface to the Second Edition

The first edition of the 'Code of Practice for the Control of Bed Bug Infestations in Australia' (CoP) was produced in response to the re-emergence of bed bugs as a common public health pest. Yet since the birth of the first edition, bed bug numbers have continued to climb. A survey of 121 Pest Managers in 2006 found that across Australia, bed bug infestations had risen by a dramatic 4,500% since 1999, with over 9,000 separately treated infestations reported (Doggett and Russell, 2007). As this survey was only a fraction of the pest control industry, the increase is undoubtedly much greater, with the true number of treatments perhaps exceeding 100,000. The actual costs associated with bed bugs are also beginning to become realised; one inner city motel with recurrent bed bug problems found that the average cost per infestation came to over $1,500 (Doggett and Russell, 2007). While it is difficult to extrapolate these costs to calculate the true financial burden on the Australian economy since the resurgence began, a figure of $100million may well be a very conservative estimate.

Bed bugs are blood sucking insects that can inflict considerable discomfort and cause tremendous mental stress. Additionally, as they are a serious economic burden on the accommodation industry, it is paramount to ensure that the CoP is kept up to date and relevant.

To maintain relevance, the CoP has to evolve in conjunction with the latest issues and research. This edition incorporates such developments including; the use of sniffer dogs for bed bug detection, research in the laundering of bed bug infested linen and recent data on insecticide resistance.

This edition of the CoP also addresses several key issues that have been identified over the last year, including; bed bugs in the socially disadvantaged, infestations in multiple occupancy residential complexes and the need for training of Pest Managers in how to conduct themselves in a bed bug infested environment to avoid transferring infestations elsewhere.The CoP is the culmination of the hard work of many individuals and thanks must be given to all who have contributed, especially to the CoP Working Party and those listed in the in acknowledgements.

Bed bugs are currently an international problem and infestations can only be reduced in number worldwide if best practice management options are undertaken globally. It is thus encouraging that the Pest Management Association of New Zealand (PMANZ) and the Confederation of European Pest Associations (CEPA) have adopted the Australian CoP. Other pest management associations can encourage their members to undertake best practice through the promotion of this CoP, and are welcome to do so.

 

Preface to the First Edition

For some 50 years Bed Bugs were considered a minor public health pest as infestations had become rare due to technological innovations such as the invention of DDT. However, towards the end of the 20th century, many pest managers throughout the western world began to notice an increase in the number of Bed Bug infestations.  

This resurgence caught many unaware; few pest controllers had the theoretical knowledge and practical experience to successfully undertake treatments, while the hotelier did not know how to recognise the pest or know how to deal with an infestation. This has meant that Bed Bugs have often gone undetected and treatment failures have been all too common. The inevitable result is that the number of infestations have continued to increase.

In an effort to stem the rise of Bed Bugs, a Working Party was formed in June 2005 by the Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association (AEPMA) to develop a Code of Practice (CoP) for the control of Bed Bug infestations in Australia. The principle author of the CoP is Stephen Doggett, a Medical Entomologist at the Department of Medical Entomology, Westmead Hospital, and noted for his recent publication series on Bed Bugs and their control (see 'Bed Bug Articles').

The CoP endeavours to provide a reference document, which would be a guide for pest managers, the accommodation industry, service industries and professions, and the general public on best practice in the control of active bed bug infestations, and the minimisation of the spread of existing infestations and the prevention of possible future infestations.

The expected outcome from adherence to the CoP would be to minimise the impact of bed bug infestations wherever they occur. A draft version was available for public comment (see below) and the submissions (see below) were used in the development of the final release version.

(Note: this document is 1MB & may take some time to download).

Click here to download the First Edition.

Click here to download all the submissions for the First Edition.

Click here to download the Draft Code of Practice of the First Edition.