'X Factor' Contestants Report Bed Bug Infestation

TMZ: Several "X Factor" finalists claim they were nearly eaten alive at their L.A. hotel this week, TMZ has learned -- after a swarm of bloodthirsty bed bugs feasted on their flesh ... while they slept.

Sources close to the contestants tell TMZ, the unidentified singers in question were staying at the Grafton Hotel ... and when four of them woke up in the morning, they were covered in bites.

We're told the contestants did a little digging and claim they discovered the hotel had a massive bed bug infestation -- so they bailed asap, and notified "X Factor" producers ... who then dealt with the hotel and found new digs for the singers.

Sources connected to production say the hotel acknowledged the bed bug problem. A rep for the Grafton had no comment when we called.

Sleep tight.

Which City Has the Most Bed Bugs?

Hotel Chatter: Well, we can't say we're that surprised. According to data released yesterday, none other than Las Vegas ranked number one as the city with the most hotel bedbug complaints. Guess all those extra hotel rooms proved too enticing for the little blood-suckers.

The report contains a quote from Philip Vaughn, CEO of Raveable.com (the travel website that completed the study), who says this has been "a groundbreaking year for bedbugs." And how. We'd only just finished telling you about The Park Central's Union Rat woes yesterday, and now this happens. Aren't you curious to see which other cities made the cut? More creepy-crawly cities after the jump.

Coming in at second place is good ol' NYC, which has remained relatively quiet on the hotel bed bug front. Then again, between earthquakes and hurricanes, there have been plenty of other things to worry about recently.

Certain parts of this study, which compiled its information from user reviews, we find a little questionable. For instance, if a city's bedbug ranking has "jumped" 667% since last year (ahem, Columbus), is that because of more bedbugs, or are there just more people posting bad reviews? And if a hotel moves quickly to rectify the situation, shouldn't that information be included as well?

Other cities in the list include: San Francisco, Orlando, Atlantic City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Columbus, and Anaheim. Surprisingly, no mention of Glendale, AZ.

Pest Association Confirms: Bedbug Infestations Increasing

USA Today: Yuck.

Bedbugs are on the uptick in hotels, on public transport and in other public places.

So says a new survey from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) survey. It found that infestations -- even in hospitals -- are up over last year.

Even the pest-control industry "has been surprised" by the resurgence of bedbugs and "where they're being found," NPMA public affairs VP Missy Henriksen tells me.

According to the just-released NPMA/University of Kentucky 2011 "Bugs Without Borders Survey," involving 415 pest-control specialists, the creepy crawlers have multiplied and are found in places you might not expect.

Survey findings include:

*99% of pest professionals have seen bedbug infestations in the past year (up from 95% in 2010)

*80% of pest professionals have treated bedbugs in hotels/motels, compared with 67% in 2010
*73% of pest professionals believe bedbugs are the most difficult pest to treat
*54% have treated bedbugs in college dorms, up from 35% in 2010
*46% have treated bedbugs in nursing homes, vs. 25% in 2010
*38% have treated bedbugs in office buildings, compared with 18% in 2010
* 36% have treated bedbugs in schools and day care centers, vs. 10% in 2010. That's an amazing increase, as is the 31% who say they've found bedbugs in hospitals, vs. 12% in 2010
*18% have treated bedbugs in trains, buses or taxis, compared with 9% in 2010
*17% have dealt with bedbugs in movie theaters; 5% in 2010

Why the increase? "Bedbugs are hitchhikers," Henriksen says. More of us are traveling, and we lead increasingly mobile lives. Also, strong chemicals formerly used to treat bedbugs haven't been allowed for decades, freeing the little biters to thrive.

The good news, if one can call it that, is that infestations can be treated, by steam, heat, freezing, chemicals, vacuuming or a combination of the above, Henriksen says. She offers some tips for travelers:

*When checking into a hotel, check behind the headboard and on the mattress for stains -- blood or fecal matter indicating bedbugs may be present.

*Try to avoid leaving luggage on upholstered surfaces. The safest place is in the bathroom, on counters or in the shower, because the bugs don't like uncarpeted or non-upholstered surfaces with no place to hide.

*While many find sites such as bedbugregistry.com, which contain reports by travelers and others about infestations, useful, Henriksen warns that since complaints are anonymous, they could be written by disgruntled competitors or employees. And a bedbug infestation that's here today could be gone tomorrow if the hotel has a good pest control policy, she says. "And hotels are much more proactive now," she says. Maybe, but if I see multiple, detailed reports of problems at a hotel, I don't make a reservation. Better to be safe than sorry.

*The bad news is that more bedbugs are being found on trains and planes, she says. So it's important to be vigilant when you arrive home.

That means immediately taking out all clothes and washing and drying them on "hot," she says. Or bag them and send them to the dry cleaner if they're delicate. Vacuum the suitcase thoroughly and dispose of the vacuum bag, she says.

Woman Claims Cat Was Bitten by Bed Bugs

ABC15: A Glendale (Arizona) woman is warning travelers to be extra cautious when bringing pets to a hotel after her cat got a costly infection she believes was caused by bedbugs.

The woman, who asked to be identified only as Elena, says she checked into a Holiday Inn in Fountain Hills back in July. Her air conditioner at home was broken, she said, and she brought her two cats with her.

After staying in the hotel room, Elena says she started itching. She showed ABC15 pictures of her neck covered in red bumps. She also showed us a photo of a tiny bug on a pillow.

After checking out, Elena says she got a checkup. According to medical documents she provided us, a doctor at North Valley Family Medicine examined her three days later and determined she had bedbug bites.

Elena says her cat was in worse condition.

"I noticed she was starting to pull her hair and itching," Elena said. "I said let's see in a couple of weeks if it gets any better. Within that time, it had gotten much worse. There were bald spots throughout the cat's body and (pus)."

Elena took her cat to Apollo North Animal Hospital in Glendale. Dr. Patricia Bennett treated the cat. Bennett tells me the cat had "damage due to scratching an itch." Bennett said there were "scabs, bumps, and lesions" from "head to toe."

Bennett says she cannot prove this was caused by a bedbug but it is possible. Bennett also said she had examined the cat before and it did not have a pre-existing skin condition.

Should owners be concerned? Dr. Raegan Wells, with Emergency Animal Clinic in Gilbert, who was not involved in this case, says it is unlikely a bedbug caused the cat's reaction.

"I'm not willing to say that it is impossible for a dog or cat to be bitten by a bedbug but it's a very unlikely problem that a dog or cat would be bitten by a bedbug," Wells said. "It's a problem in the environment and bedbugs prefer humans as the host."

Wells said she has seen clients who thought their pet had been bitten by bed bugs but, in each case, it turned out to be something else. According to Wells, she has not seen an actual case of a bedbug biting a house pet.

We contacted Holiday Inn for comment. Michael Lvov, a manager, told me over the phone, that the hotel did not have bedbugs. Lvov said they hired an external company to inspect several hotel rooms after Elena's complaint. He provided documents showing that there was no evidence of bedbugs.

According to Johnny Diloné, Media and Community Relations Manager with the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department, MCES also did an inspection August 2. The inspector found no evidence to support the allegations made in the complaint, Diloné said.

MCES says there are no records of any insect, pest, or rodent violations at the hotel based on a record search from 2005 to present day.

After hundreds of dollars in vet bills and weeks of treatment, Elena has her own opinion. She advises other pet owners not to travel with their dogs or cats.

"Just put them in a kennel or take them to the vet," she said.

If you do travel with pets, here's some advice:

   - Treat them for fleas and ticks ahead of time. Wells says this is a more common threat to pets.

   - Research the hotel. Wells says bedbugs are an environmental problem.

   - Also, give your pets extra attention. Travel may cause anxiety in animals.