SEATTLE – Clothes were washed, mattresses replaced and pesticide sprayed as the Navy waged war on persistent bedbug infestation on a nuclear-powered submarine in their home port in the Bremerton area.
Marine entomologists now confirm that “every possible measure has been taken” to control the infestation and recommended, according to a statement by Cmdr. Cindy Fields, a public affairs officer for Naval Submarine Forces Pacific.
That campaign aboard the USS Connecticut reportedly involved the dumping of diatomaceous earth to pull insects out of hiding and come into contact with this “deadly” countermeasure.
But the Navy’s efforts have not allayed the concerns of the crew, some of whom slept on camp beds in makeshift shelter by the pier to avoid being bitten into the submarine racks where people sleep.
“They are really frustrated and disappointed with the Navy,” said Jeffery Rachall, who previously served on the submarine and has kept in close contact with fellow crew members since retiring from the military in 2018. “They complain about lack of sleep. They itch and the bugs crawl all over the place.”
Bedbugs are oval-shaped insects that are about an inch long when fully grown and feed on the blood of humans and some animals. They can be transported to hotels, houses, and boats with people’s clothing, luggage, or other personal effects. They often settle in beds where they can leave small stains that mark their presence. Although the bites are swollen and itchy, it can take two days or more to show up.
It is unclear how the infestation began on the USS Connecticut, but according to Rachall, it is possible that it occurred during a port stop.
The USS Connecticut is a nuclear-powered, rapid attack submarine that was launched in 1997 and relocated to a homeport in Washington in 2011. It can be used for reconnaissance and protection of the navy fleets.
The USS Connecticut infestation was highlighted in a recent Navy Times article. It included an interview with an unnamed non-commissioned officer who said the bedbug infestation first became a problem during a deployment in the Arctic Ocean in March 2020 and that the presence of bedbugs has made fatigue a safety issue.
“If someone is deprived of sleep because they’re in bed and being eaten alive by bed bugs, they could fall asleep (at the controls) and run us into an underwater mountain,” the corporal told the Navy Times.
The Navy Times also reported that some NCOs claim the command will force sailors to sleep in the racks again during practice this week when all the sub-crew will be on board.
The Navy public affairs officer said the first reports of bedbugs were made only last December. They were not found during the first inspections that month. Then, around February 19, the “physical presence of bed bugs” was determined, a requirement for treatment. Daily inspections have been conducted since then, with the two Navy entomologists arriving on March 4 “to direct the effort,” Fields’ statement said.
“The Navy takes the safety and health of seafarers very seriously,” Fields wrote.
This article was written by Hal Bernton of the Seattle Times and is legally licensed through the Tribune Content Agency through the Industry Dive publishing network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
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