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Chicago Leads Bedbug Cities for Second Year in a Row

By DNAinfo Staff | January 16, 2014 2:07pm
 Plush bedbug toys are displayed at the Bed Bug University North American Summit 2010 in Rosemont. The two-day conference of bedbug experts and pest control workers featured seminars from researchers and vendors displaying the latest products focused on bedbug detection, elimination and prevention.
Plush bedbug toys are displayed at the Bed Bug University North American Summit 2010 in Rosemont. The two-day conference of bedbug experts and pest control workers featured seminars from researchers and vendors displaying the latest products focused on bedbug detection, elimination and prevention.
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Brian Kersey/Getty Images

CHICAGO — For the second year in a row, Chicago leads the list of cities with the most bedbug infestations, according to pest control company Orkin.

The city retained its dubious distinction among U.S. cities, having the most bedbug treatments performed by Orkin from January through December 2013.

Bedbugs presented such a pervasive problem that the City Council passed on ordinance in June requiring landlords to take swift action to eradicate infestations and making it illegal to rent units infested by bedbugs.

The U.S. is seeing an "alarming resurgence" in bedbugs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency suspects bedbugs are making a comeback due to their resistance to certain pesticides, more international and domestic travel and lack of knowledge on how to control them.

"While studies show that bedbugs do not spread disease, the physical and mental health consequences are well documented and of serious public concern," said Orkin entomologist and Technical Services Director Ron Harrison.

"Once bed bugs are inside your home or business, they can reproduce quickly and can travel from place to place in personal belongings and even on people. They can also move from place to place on their own, independently of objects," Harrison said.

Los Angeles; Columbus, Ohio; Detroit and Cincinnati round out the top five cities with bedbug problems. Also making the list: Champaign/Springfield, Peoria/Bloomington and Moline.