With bed bugs still gaining the upper hand on communities throughout the United States and other worldwide locations, researchers are in a constant race to find a magic bullet that will be the ultimate defender against the little vampires that attack in the night. There are many products that make grandiose claims as to their effective rate against killing the pests, but sadly, time and time again, consumers are fooled as the bed bugs keep on biting.
A study has recently been performed by Dr. Jonathan M. Sheele as was reported by The Chronical Hearld on January 3, 2013. An emergency medicine specialist at Eastern Virginia Medical School has new ideas how to kill bloodthirsty bed bugs. In the study, volunteers took one dose of Ivermectin, in pill form, went to sleep and waited for the bed bugs to come calling. The bugs performed as usual, hungry for a free dinner. The results…of those bed bugs that fed were that more than 60% succumbed to death after receiving their blood meal.
The drug that is used is not considered to be rare, but is available by prescription only. It is in fact found in thousands of American households every day in the form of a Heartgard and other prescription dog medications that protect the pooches against dangerous heartworms. Some people might think…”I’m not taking dog medicine!” No worries, Ivermectin, the active ingredient is also given to humans as a prescription as well. People are given the medication when they accidentally pick up worms from traveling to foreigncountries or children who are inadvertently exposed to unsanitary conditions. In several third world countries, the medication is considered to be safe and is given as common practice to kill parasitic worms.
Please check back on Friday for the conclusion.