New York to spend big to kill bloodsucking bedbugs

The city announced plans on Wednesday to spend US$500,000 raising awareness of the tiny bloodsucking mites in a bid to kill them off after bedbug complaints grew by 40 percent in the past three years.

“Everyone wants to come to New York, including bedbugs,” said New York City Councilwoman Christine Quinn. “But we have a message for them ... drop dead.”

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton has battled an outbreak at his Harlem office, along with lingerie outlet Victoria's Secret, teen clothing store Hollister and countless hotels who have lost thousands of dollars in revenue fighting the bedbug.

New York has been hard hit by bed bugs — who like to nestle in furniture and suck the blood of humans and animals — in part because of the high density living and the millions of tourists who visit the city each year, Quinn said.

Last year more than 33,000 people called the city's bedbug complaint line to ask for help in dealing with the mites.

Bedbugs don't carry disease, but they can be difficult and expensive to get rid of and cause “emotional, psychological and economic anguish,” said Councilwoman Gale Brewer.

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