Survey: Bedbugs bug Cincinnati residents

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CINCINNATI, July 5 (UPI) -- Cincinnati's dubious distinction as a hotbed of bedbugs appears to be supported by data from a new survey from the city's health department.

The department sponsored a poll that found 18 percent of homeowners in the Queen City had problems with the pesky insects as recently as last year.

"We all know that Ohio is in a terrible spot with bedbug infestation," said state Rep. Dale Mallory, the chair of the Cincinnati Joint Bed Bug Task Force. "It has gone beyond just some bug-infested home."

The Cincinnati Enquirer said the survey came out after the pest-control companies Orkin and Terminix, which ranked the city tops on their respective lists of top cities for bedbug service calls in 2010.

The newspaper also said Tuesday a recent Ohio Department of Health report included reports that paramedics have been applying bug spray to some of their patients before transporting them to the hospital.

The health department survey queried 495 Cincinnati residents.