By Angela Hill

Bed bugs found at hospital

Nov 5, 2010 | 4:22 PM

paNOW Staff

Bed bugs found at Victoria Hospital have staff keeping a close eye on the facility.
Earlier this week the bugs were found in two patient rooms in different areas of the hospital.
“They identified the two sources where the bedbugs were found. Those two rooms were cleaned, remediated, but at the same time the rest of the facility is inspected to see if there are any bed bugs,” said Dr. Khami Chokani, medical health officer for the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region.
The cleaning is thorough, Chokani said.
“You take the room, then a room to each side — so a room to the left, a room to the right, a room above and a room below. We check all those room and clean all those rooms around where you find (the bug).”
Even though the cleaning is completed, health region officials aren’t taking any chances.
“We have to remember one thing — bed bugs are experts at hiding. They will usually hide during the day and popup at night,” Chokani said.
“We’re still going to keep monitoring … for seven to 14 days.”
This is the first time the region has had bed bugs reported in their facilities.
There are increasing numbers of bed bugs being seen across North America, said Chokani. Saskatchewan and Prince Albert are not exceptions, he said.
“They’re in the community, that’s why they sometimes end up in the hospital,” said Doug Dahl, communications officer for the region.
Patient confidentiality prevents the region on commenting about where the patients were from or where in the hospital the bed bugs were found, he said.
Chokani said that people who find bed bugs in their homes should use extreme hot or cold to kill them, for example throwing clothes and bedding into the dryer.

ahill@panow.com