EDMONTON - Residents of a southside condo building at 19 Avenue and 105 Street are dealing with a major bug infestation that dates back all the way to July 2010.
That's when Alberta Health Services ordered owner Amar Singh to clean up about 45 suites in the building. And even though suites were treated, residents say not enough was done.
Jack White, who moved into the building when the problems first started, says he has had to throw out at least five mattresses since.
"Had them in to fumigate a couple times now and the problem keeps coming back...had to replace mattresses, furniture, all sorts of stuff like that."
Across the hall, Tina Bergeron's suite wasn't treated during the intial outbreak because when AHS officials checked her suite, they didn't find a problem. Now for months, the bloodsuckers have been leaving her with many sleepless nights.
"I've been living on two to four hours of sleep. I've been falling apart emotionally because of this," she says. "You see things skittering across your pillow and you think it's a dream, but there's actually things in your bed."
Aside from seeing the bugs and their bite marks, signs that they're around include black spots and blood streaks on your bedding.
According to the AHS website, landlords are required by law to hire an exterminator to address confirmed bed bug infestations.
Bergeron says she has called AHS and was told they will look into it. In the meantime, she hopes her landlord will cover the costs associated with treating the problem, but she's been told he's out of the country.
"I do not have the money, I don't financially the money to replace a bed...I'm literally stuck financially. I'm not sure how I'm going to do this," she tells us tearfully.
To make things worse, the bud bugs aren't the only creatures crawling around the suites in the building. Residents also say cockroaches are everywhere.
"Every time I turn on light, it's sitting in kitchen, in the washroom - anywhere," says tenant Ushra Kumra.
According to experts, that can be a serious problem.
"Cockroaches have to be dealt with quickly, effectively by a professional," explains Amin Poonja of Ecopest Inc. "It can spread diseases, because they actually carry diseases. So they are actually a health hazard, whereas bed bugs not classified as a health hazard."
Our calls to the building's manager were not returned.
With files from Linda Nguyen, Global News
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