With Bedbug infestations seemingly everywhere in the media, is there really an epidemic or is it just sensationalism? Here's a look at some of the facts about bedbugs and ways that you can avoid these nasty critters from hitching a ride into your home while traveling.
First, what are Bedbugs?
Bedbugs are small, wingless insects that belong to the Cimicidae family, with the common species being Cimex lectularius. These nocturnal pests feed on the blood of humans and animals, typically while their hosts are asleep. Ranging in size from 1 to 7 millimeters, bed bugs have a flattened, oval-shaped body, and their reddish-brown color can change after a blood meal. Despite their small size, bedbugs are resilient and can survive for several months without a blood feast (ugh, did I really just write blood feast).
They have been dining on their human hosts for millenia now and have been considerably worse in the past prior to the invention of modern pesticides. If you are imagining some middle ages peasant's hovel being a nightmarish scenario for the creatures you'd be mistaken. Most of the bedbug infestations were found among the nobles and other aristocrats. Why? These palatial homes and estates had much more heat, and bedbugs did not survive well in cold temperatures.
Where can you find them?
They are expert hiders, finding refuge in cracks, crevices, seams of furniture, and in particular in and around beds hence their name. They can even take refuge behind peeling wallpaper or in carpet voids. Infestations predominantly occur in places where people sleep or spend extended periods of time such as hotels and other lodging establishments. They can also be found in homes much to the distress of the homeowner, and are often introduced into the home by luggage that has been exposed to an infected location.
Signs of their presence include small, reddish-brown stains on bed linens, molted bed bug skins, and small, clustered bites on the skin of those who have been preyed upon. Adult bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, but their small size (roughly the size of an apple seed at adult stage) and nocturnal behavior make them challenging to spot. They do have an aggregation pheromone that tends to make them group themselves together so you are more likely to spot a cluster of them than just a single one.
Are Bedbugs Dangerous?
While bedbugs are not known to transmit diseases directly, their bites can cause itching, redness, and discomfort. This irritation can lead to secondary infections though due to broken skin as a result of constant scratching similar to a bad mosquito bite becoming infected. Despite not being particularly dangerous, it is the psychological toll of a bed bug infestation that can be significant, leading to stress, extreme anxiety, disrupted sleep patterns and in worst case scenarios, insomnia. Many people are borderline phobic at the thought of being in a room with them and will avoid travel to anywhere that may be experiencing an outbreak, real or hyped.
What is the Latest in the News about Bedbugs?
Paris, UK, South Korea, New York and Hong Kong have all made headlines recently with Paris probably taking the top spot for current histrionics. There have been numerous videos of the bugs on the metros, in theatres, airports and pretty much every indoor public space but how serious is the problem there?
Is the Paris situation being massively overblown due to the fact that they are about to host the 2024 Summer Olympics? Probably, but there is no denying that there is a noticeable surge in bedbug reports in the city. Even the deputy mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Gregoire recently warned in a now viral statement "No One is Safe" although he later went on to warn against creating hysteria over the issue.
In reality, bedbug infections are on the increase globally and have been for at least the last two decades, for varying reasons. Warming climate trends are making areas that were once too chilly now warm enough for bedbugs to flourish. This can be seen by the increases witnessed in Canadian cities since the early 2000's although historically even Canada has had some outbreaks. Once they get a foothold in a nice cozy apartment complex it can be hard to eradicate them even if it is -30 outside.
Their rapid spread from one infested area to other locations can be attributed to much more travel in today's world. The COVID pandemic certainly saw a drop in the reports of bedbugs because travel was extremely curtailed but since restrictions have eased there have been a constant rise in bedbug occurrences. Their breadth has expanded into more residential homes as well in large part due to the rise in alternative accommodations like AirBnB.
In addition, higher population density in cities tends to make places like Paris, New York, Chicago, Seoul all likely places that would experience such outbreaks. To make matters worse, those pesticides we developed that killed them off sometime after WWII are now losing their potency on bedbugs in the same way that other insects have developed a resistance to chemicals designed to eradicate them.
So it really is a kind of perfect storm for us to see these types of infestations on the rise and naturally these are only the infestations we are made aware of. How conducive to business would it be for a small hotel manager to report the presence of bedbugs on their property? Yeah, exactly. In fact, there are no regulations at all that require an accommodation to report bedbugs. There are some guidelines that have been issued but nothing that enforces any kind of restrictions.
So, How do I Avoid Bringing Bedbugs Home?
First off, don't stay at a place that has bedbugs. Wait, what does that mean? No idea. Your guess is as good as mine. There really isn't any verifiable way of knowing when booking (apart from perhaps a significant number of recent reviews that corroborate it) and it won't matter if it is a cheap motel or a pricey hotel chain, bedbugs don't discriminate. They don't care about general hygiene of a place, only if there is a lot of places to hide. That being said the pricey hotel chain is likely to be far more aggressive in addressing the problem of the bugs once made aware of them. That's all I'll say on that matter.
So, your best bet is to assume there might be bugs and take some simple precautions.
Upon entering the room:
Place your luggage in the bath tub
Take off the top cover/duvet of the bed, fold it neatly and place it on a window ledge, in a drawer you won't be using, or just somewhere away from the bed and furniture. Leave it there for the duration your stay. While your pillow cases and sheets will have been freshly changed upon your arrival, there have been plenty of articles written that show that a significant number of hotels do not actually wash these blankets/top covers/duvets after each stay and typically will only do weekly if that. So, that's just, "Ew David" on so many levels.
Conduct a thorough inspection for bedbugs using a flashlight to examine behind headboards, between seams and folds, as well as tufts in mattresses and furniture. Pay attention to cracks and crevices in walls too as these can be common hiding spots. Look for any signs of bedbugs, such as those noted above (reddish brown stains, etc.)
Once you have examined the room and have not found any evidence of them it is still best to avoid placing luggage on the bed or upholstered furniture and use luggage racks or smooth metal/tile surfaces to keep your belongings elevated and away from potential hiding spots.
Don't unpack everything into the provided drawers instead keeping your clothes in your luggage zipped up if you are in doubt. It's easier to do a quick iron on a needed item then it is to get rid of these pests if you happen to bring them home with you. If the hotel room has a nice clean closet then hanging them up in there is acceptable as the bugs are not very likely to get up into them.
Don't leave clothing on the floor, ever! Keep some large ziplock bags or some breathable fabric ones (not with a large enough mesh to allow the bugs in though) to isolate your dirty clothing and you can put those into the drawers provided they are fully sealed.
These steps should minimize the chances that, if there are bugs present that you overlooked in your inspection, any of them will hitchhike a ride back home with you. However, even then you should take some steps after returning home as well:
Unpack luggage outside, or in a garage/bathroom etc. Basically somewhere that is not going to provide bugs with a place to hide straight away. Never take the luggage to the bedroom and start unpacking on your bed. That is just asking for trouble.
Quarantine your luggage once emptied somewhere away from living spaces and bedrooms.
Wash all clothing immediately in hot water.
Vacuum and inspect your luggage thoroughly, paying attention to seams and pockets. For added protection use a hairdryer on hot setting to blast these areas to ensure any eggs will be destroyed.
At any sign of infestation in the home, immediately seek professional pest control services to effectively eliminate the bedbug problem.
Early detection and prompt intervention are crucial in managing and preventing the spread. DIY remedies may not be effective enough early on and in a matter of weeks the problem could explode considering that female bedbugs can lay between one and 12 eggs per day, and up to 500 eggs in their lifetime. Don't risk it, call in the pros.
Summary
Overall, it is unlikely you'll need to worry much about bedbugs when you travel but it is always good to be vigilant and aware of what to look for. Don't go canceling plans out of a fear that has been stoked by the media and viral videos. Just use common sense and take precautions to avoid introducing them into your own home.
Thanks for the read, and Happy (Bug-free) Travels!
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