NJ’s Health Department building infested by bed bugs
TRENTON — State workers at several buildings in New Jersey's capital are dealing with an infestation of bed bugs.
The Hughes Justice Complex, the labor building at John Fitch Plaza and offices at the Capital Center on East State Street leased by the Department of Health were all affected by the outbreak this past week, according to 6ABC Action News.
Workers are concerned about their personal belongings such as coats and purses picking up the bugs and inadvertently bringing them home.
Bedbug monitors were installed on the third, fourth and sixth floors of those buildings, according to the report, and the Department of Health is exterminating floor-by-floor.
Lionel Leach, president of the Communications Workers of America Local 1039, which represents the workers, said it would be best if all floors were treated at once according to the report.
Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed on people's blood. The bugs feast while people sleep. They tend to live in the walls and floors of buildings and can survive more than a year without feeding, making them difficult to exterminate and a constant concern for hotels and residential buildings.
Bed bug infestations are not determined by the cleanliness of the area where they are found. They often hitch rides on luggage, clothing and furniture, which is how they spread.
Their bite is similar to that of a mosquito and creates a red, swollen area that may itch and be irritating. Other symptoms of bed bug bites include insomnia, anxiety, and skin problems that arise from profuse scratching of the bites.
Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.
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