Bedbugs are reddish brown, oval and about the size of an apple seed.

(Photo from Wikpedia web site)

Story by Tom Palen

Rumors have been circulating about the possibility of bedbugs at the Ottumwa 8 movie theatres, and they appear to be just that. Rumors.

Jody Gates, Director of Health and Inspections for the City of Ottumwa, confirmed they did receive one such a complaint.  A woman said her daughter did not have signs of bites prior to going to the movie theatre and felt she got the bites there.

“We got as specific as we could. Where did the girl sit, in which theatre and so on?” Gates said. Tuesday afternoon Bob Coffman, Environmental Health Specialist, inspected the theatre. Coffman said he inspected 35 seats in the area where the girl said she had sat and found no bedbugs. With no sign on the surface of the seats, Coffman said he had even taken the seats apart and still found no evidence or traces that bedbugs had ever been there.

Bedbugs were fairly common through out the world and in the United States prior to World War II. The pest had been eradicated from most developed countries with the use of DDT a chemical since banned in the US. The bugs still lived in other countries around the world and with international travel becoming more common, the pest has made its way back to the US around 1995.

Gates said the health department had other cases of bedbugs in Ottumwa, including rental properties, owner occupied homes and one motel. “The motel industry is trying to stay ahead of the problem by using plastic covers on mattresses to prevent the problem. They’re doing a good job of keeping it under control.”

Bed bugs are reddish brown in color, oval shaped and about the size of an apple seed.  They are generally nocturnal feeding on humans at night. The most common health effect of bed bugs is a skin rash, but can in rare cases be more severe.

According to an article on the Mayo Clinic web site, the irritation will generally go away on it own within a week. Hydrocortisone cream and Benadryl can also be used to relieve discomfort. Bedbugs are small and can be difficult to get rid of. The best way to eradicate the pest from your home is by using a professional exterminator.