Bed Bug Battle To Be Discussed At Concord Meeting

CONCORD (BCN) - County health officials will be holding a town hall meeting in Concord on Thursday to provide information about bed bugs to local residents, according to Contra Costa Health Services.

During the meeting, speakers from the Contra Costa County Bed Bug Task Force will provide information about how to detect and manage bed bugs.  They will also discuss tenants rights and landlord responsibilities regarding the invasive species.

Beg bugs are small insects that feed on human blood. Their bites often cause itchy, swollen bumps similar to mosquito bites.

While their bites can be a nuisance, bed bugs are not known to carry or transmit any diseases, according to health officials.

Joanne Genet with the Public and Environmental Health Advisory Board said health officials want to educate people about how to deal with bed bugs to prevent the spread of infestations, but they are also trying to get a sense of how severe the bed bug problem is in the county.

The Public and Environmental Advisory Board identifies emerging health issues and recommends community-based interventions to the county board of supervisors.

Genet said the health department has received reports of bed bug infestations in several apartment buildings in the Monument Corridor in Concord.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the multipurpose room at Meadow Homes Elementary School at 1371 Detroit Ave. in Concord.

The event is co-sponsored by the Monument Community Partnership, the Public and Environmental Health Advisory Board and the Bed Bug Task Force.

Childcare and Spanish interpretation will be provided.

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