Mitey Monday (Sample Newsletter Article)

 

Photo credit: U.S. Food and Drug Administration

People who take a few simple measures can reduce the health hazards of house dust mites—microscopic pests that live with humans. Luckily, many of the recommendations for dust mite management also work for bed bugs! I’ve summarized them in the sample newsletter article below.

 

If you want to go more in-depth on dust mite management, visit: 

• Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America 
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Environmental assessment and exposure control of dust mites: a practice parameter. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2013 Dec;111(6):465-507. 

-----------------Sample Newsletter Article--------------------

Battling Bad Bugs: Dust Mites & Bed Bugs 

Bed bugs and house dust mites are completely different creatures, but both are very good at living with us.

	Bed Bugs	House Dust Mites
Size	Apple Seed	Too small to see without a microscope
# of legs	6	8
Feeding habits	Suck blood	Eat dander
Location	Cracks & crevices near where people sleep	In fabric, including upholstered furniture and curtains
Risk	People may react to the bites and an infestation often causes stress	Many people are allergic to dust mite cast skins, feces, and secretions. Reactions can vary from a stuffy nose to an asthma attack.

With a little planning and a weekly wash, you can reduce the risk of suffering from BOTH of these pests.

• Furnish your home with easy-to-clean items. Leather sofas and floors without carpeting are best.
• Use encasements on mattresses and pillows. Make sure dust mites and bed bugs are mentioned on the label.
• Don’t let your home get humid. Both pests thrive in warm, humid homes.
• Wash all bedding frequently—ideally every week. The wash isn't what controls the pest—use the high-heat setting on the dryer to kill both bed bugs and dust mites.
  Learn more by watching the video "Kill Bed Bugs Through Laundry" from Let's Beat the Bug!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnZRjG_gNH8.

Additional tips for dust mites: Wash stuffed toys along with bedding, don’t let pets sleep on the bed, and have your rugs cleaned at least twice a year.

If you suspect you or a child is allergic to dust mites, see a doctor.
If you suspect there are bed bugs in your home, call your property manager.

Comments

[Allie]

StopPests now has a dust mite page: http://www.stoppests.org/pest-solutions/dust-mites/

[Kayte]

I was told that if you use a zip up beg bug bag that it will still create condensation inside the bag and then create a mold problem in the mattress. Is that true?

[Dennise Belmaker, StopPests in Housing]

Kayte, thanks for sharing your question. As long as the mattress is dry there shouldn't be a mold problem. I think a situation like you describe would require extreme humidity conditions, but even that would be a stretch. So mattress encasements are still one of the first measures recommended for bed bug and dust mite control.