Bedbugs have made a comeback. All over the world, folks are waking up with itchy red welts all over their bodies. And it’s not a problem contained to fleabag hotels–even $400 a night hotels have them. There is good news and bad news about bedbugs. The bad news is that they are extremely hard to get rid of, they can live for a year without food, and they are very mobile. What’s the good news? You won’t catch any disease from their bites. (This is likely a small consolation for those who have experienced an infestation of the tiny blood-sucking critters.)
Bedbugs aren’t found just in beds and mattresses. They can be found in furniture, clothing, luggage, and more. And, they spread rapidly. So fast, in fact, that National Pest Management Association reports that bedbug calls to pest control companies are up 70% in the past five years.
You may not even know if you have them. Most people bitten do not show a reaction. Only about 30% of people experience reactions to a bedbug bite. But, if you get bedbugs, or suspect you have bedbugs, don’t be a cheapskate. Call a professional. It can be expensive, but home remedies are spotty, at best.
And if, unhappily, you already have bed bugs? Call a reputable exterminator with plenty of bed bug experience. Expect to have several treatments that last several hours, and be prepared to throw out a lot of your stuff.
Avoid used mattresses and be wary of used clothing and furniture. If you’re staying in a hotel, check for signs of bedbugs before unpacking.
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Too true, Jodi. I have a friend here at the CDC who THROWS AWAY all her clothes when returning from some certain foreign destinations. The her husband burns them. Extreme? Yes. Does it works? Mostly.
It is not a joke that once they are in the house, you will be replacing almost all furniture, carpeting, linens and clothing. I’ve seen whole apartments condemned.
Wow, that is extreme! But, if you travel frequently then it’s understandable. I’ve heard that only severely high heat and extreme cold can kill them. And you have to change the temp in the entire house/apartment building or else they just travel to get away. Ugh!
” Only about 30% of people experience reactions to a bedbug bite.” that figure is for first contact, the more you r exposed or bitten, the worse the reaction. i had no idea i was bitten the first time, just a few small red marks in a triangular pattern. got back to town saw the doc he told me bedbugs. next time i got attacked in a hotel in DC. 20 bites on my legs, the bites swelled up , took a month for then to disappear. boyfriend bought me an allersac and a can of raid as a joke, he’s not my boyfriend anymore
Wow! Thanks for the info, Janine. Hopefully you didn’t carry any critters back home with you from your travels.
Informative blog with great facts and figures. The only thing is that Iknow they aren’t known to carry diseases, but I’ve read that they can transmit Hepatitis B in rare circumstances.