Bed bug infestation at Redwood City assisted living facility continues, resident says

Warning: Images in this story may be disturbing to some viewers.

(KRON) -- In October, KRON4 reported on a bed bug outbreak at an assisted living facility in Redwood City. Now, one resident said the situation is not getting any better. The facility, however, says it has taken steps to address the problems.

The facility is called Hopkins Manor. One resident, Eric Love, said the bed bug infestation is so bad, it sent him to the emergency room. The facility switched exterminators because they were unsatisfied and felt like they were not doing a great job as the bed bugs were still present.

A month later, following KRON4's reporting and a visit from the state and a new contractor to get rid of the bed bugs, Love says it has gotten worse.

"I am in the hospital," Love said.

He said he was admitted to the hospital Friday because the continued bed bug bites have triggered what he says is a virus in his system. Speaking from his hospital bed, Love shared pictures of the bites.

"I can't even move, and they haven’t been able to stabilize me," he said.

KRON4 spoke with Hopkins Manor about the status of addressing the bed bugs. They declined an interview but spoke with us over the phone, stating they have been treating the facility, and out of 80 residents, Love has been the only one to complain.

They added that they aren’t immune to bed bugs because they are a community facility but are working to keep it bed bug-free.

"It should not have gotten this bad," said Love.

Hopkins Manor said after KRON4's initial reporting, the state's licensing agency visited the facility and gave them an additional citation. And as of Nov. 12, they tell us the citation has been addressed.

The state says Hopkins Manor passed its most recent inspection on Oct. 31. The report continued to say the facility needed to change exterminators because the one they had been using for the past 10 years only treated rodents and insects, not bed bugs.