Bed Bugs

Training Overview

Local boards of health (LBOH) may receive complaints about bed bugs from housing occupants or other community members or a LBOH inspector may identify signs of bed bug infestations during an inspection. The presence of bed bugs can raise concerns about potential health and economic consequences. This training will provide an overview of bed bugs, outline processes and procedures for LBOH to follow when investigating bed bug complaints, and provide resources that can aid in resolving this complex public health issue.

Enroll To receive a certificate of completion. This requires registration to establish a learner profile and completion of pre- and post-tests
Course Table The Audit function is no longer available. However, all job aids are still available for viewing via the course table.

What you’ll learn

After completing this training, you will be able to:

  • Describe what bed bugs are, where they’re found, their life cycle, and their feeding habits
  • List three negative consequences of bed bug infestations
  • Name one law and one regulation that can be cited for bed bug infestations
  • Identify four signs of a bed bug infestation
  • Explain seven ways to prevent bed bug infestations, five non-chemical control methods, and three chemical control methods

Subject Matter Experts

  • HeadShot of Paull Halfmann
    Paul Halfmann
    Assistant Director, MDPH, BEH
    Community Sanitation Program (retired)
  • Dion Irish
    Dion Irish
    Commissioner
    Boston Inspectional Services

Disclaimer

This training was supported by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) with funds made available by the Grant Number 2B010T009024-15, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.
This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP27877 “Regional Public Health Training Center Program. “This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

Bed Bugs

Posted 8 years ago on