Toronto - Don't let the Bedbugs Bite!

Toronto's public health department is urging the city to put up $75,000 in emergency funding to help vulnerable adults in the city get rid of bedbugs.

If approved by city council next month, the emergency money will help people who don't qualify for welfare or disability support payments to pay for services that prepare and spray their homes for the insects.

The $75,000 cash infusion is one of the recommendations in an interim report by the city's bedbug project, a committee comprising public health, hostel services and solid waste officials, along with community agencies, health-care and pest-control providers, and landlord and tenant representatives.

Since the Bed Bug Project began in March, Toronto Public Health has inspected more than 50 apartment units with severe infestations.

Overall, between March and October, Toronto public health received 1,444 requests for help from citizens wanting to get rid of bedbugs. Officials say the pests are making a comeback, partly because of increased resistance to pesticides.

Five pilot projects the city recently launched, meant to devise methods of controlling, reducing and preventing bed bugs in five communities, identified problems with typical attempts at eradication.

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