Etobicoke General Hospital Dealing With Bed Bugs
Posted June 11, 2010 8:53 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A west end hospital is trying to get rid of some unwanted visitors – bed bugs.
The problem is only confined to a part of the emergency department, a staff lounge and some furniture in the critical care unit at the Etobicoke General site of the William Osler Health Centre.
The only live bugs spotted in the hospital were in the staff lounge and that area has been sealed off. Dead bugs and droppings were found in the ER and CCU.
Hospital vice president Dawne Barbieri admits the problem is cringe-worthy but noted it doesn’t pose a health hazard.
“We have not found any live bed bugs in beds. There were some mattresses in a particular area that tested positive.”
The public shouldn’t avoid the facility, she added. But many visitors are still feeling uneasy.
“I think it’s disgusting,” said visitor Ida Madronich.
“It’s pretty scary because you come here to get better…it makes you wonder how safe it is,” said Suren Singh.
Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to get rid of. They multiply quickly, spread and can hide easily.
Toronto has been getting increasing reports of bed bugs over the last couple of years. To see if there have been reports of bed bugs in your neighbourhood, click here.
