10/11/2011 UPDATE: On Thursday, October 6, a pest management company treated the affected areas and found no evidence of Bed Bugs. Interior baseboards and exterior treatments were then completed. All facilities were inspected by canine on Friday, October 7, and no alerts were found. A monthly inspection schedule has been established.

October 6, 2011

Addressing a modern health concern with straight forward action

[THREE RIVERS, MICH.] –YMCA Camp Eberhart recently learned that a scourge of big cities everywhere has found its way to Fabius Township near Three Rivers, Michigan.

“We were contacted by a parent Friday [September 30] that her child had bites, possibly from bed bugs,” says Bob Kolbe, Director of Operations at YMCA Camp Eberhart. “We immediately took action, reassigning an incoming group to other facilities on Camp for the day and consulting with Rebecca Burns of Branch-Hillsdale-St Joseph Community Health Agency.”

Recently, public health agencies across the country have been overwhelmed by complaints about Cimicidae (or bedbugs). Dwelling places become infected when the bugs “hitch-hike” in luggage, clothing, or other items brought along when people travel from one place to another.

Burns was able to offer advice to Camp officials, based on recommendations given by the State of Michigan Department of Community Health.

Though the initial visual inspection conducted was negative, camp officials took the extra step of contacting a bed bug eradication service, which brought in a specially trained canine. Dogs have been found to be effective and efficient for large scale inspections. That second inspection confirmed that bed bug mites were present in the cabin.

The contractor is presently working on extermination of the bed bugs with thermal remediation using ambient heat. Lethal temperatures achieved by state of the art equipment penetrate all the insect preferred habitats (i.e., bedding.)

“We will follow up with regular canine inspections to assure the health and safety of all who visit us,” says Kolbe. “We are working with the local health officials on protocols that will prevent such incidents in the future.”

YMCA Camp Eberhart is in its 102^nd year of operation, nurturing the potential of kids through summer camp experiences, promoting the health and well-being of all they serve with hands-on outdoor education in the natural world, and giving back and supporting its neighbors by being good stewards of the woodlands and wetlands.