Realizing that these aren’t your father’s bedbugs as the pests have jumped out of the budoir into the public domain, 1 in 5 Americans will avoid certain public places, according to a Rasmussen Reports survey.
Speaking of public domains, the recent rash of stories about bedbug infestations across the country even affected Google, when the Internet giant confirmed today that bedbugs nestled into an area of its posh Manhattan offices. The search engine complex’s infestation added it to a growing list of victims in the Big Apple, including Time Warner Inc., the Empire State Building, and a Times Square movie theater. Several retail stores also found creepy crawlies, and a swanky SoHo store even scratched the workday and closed.
Although such stories have set 20 percent of the population on edge, a Rasmussen survey found that 68 percent of adults have not changed any plans because of reports of bedbugs. And 12 percent aren’t sure whether they’re itching to avoid some public spots.
Only 9 percent of the 1,000 adults Rasmussen surveyed by phone Aug. 28 and 29 say they or someone they know have had recent problems with bedbugs, but nearly half are at least somewhat concerned about bedbugs affecting them personally. The other half aren’t concerned, the survey found.
Young adults are more likely than their elders to report recent problems with bedbugs or know someone who has, Rasmussen found.
Adults with children at home are slightly more concerned about bedbugs than those without, although more adults with children at home say they have not changed plans because of bedbug reports.
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