Up until the middle of the 20th century, bedbugs were a significant public-health problem worldwide. Then that powerful pesticide DDT came on the market and it looked for a while like the miracle spray.
Bedbugs were brought under control around that time and there were comparatively few incidents in public accommodation until recently.
There has been a dramatic resurgence to the point today where some jurisdictions have declared bedbug infestations an epidemic.
Once associated with less-than-clean environments, that is no longer the case. There have been reports of bedbugs in the beds of even the best hotels in the world.
Like us, bedbugs love to travel and readily find comfort in luggage, clothing, furniture, and then in your bedding if you are not careful.
I had the experience in a very good hotel in one of our major tourist destinations. It is not an experience I want to repeat…Or want anyone else to suffer through.
I was itching for weeks! And badly!
So what can you do?
There are ways of checking a bed for bedbugs but since they hide during the day, entering a bright room will make it difficult to spot them under the covers, so to speak.
In a darkened room, if you carry a small flashlight and don’t turn on the lights, by throwing back the covers and shining the flashlight on the bedding you may spot them, but they are very small.
Obviously if you spend a night in such a bed you will certainly know you had bedbug bites in the morning and you will demand a room change.
Some think ‘bug bombs’ or total-release aerosol insecticide products work, but they have not proven to be completely effective and, according to a government website, can be dangerous as well.
There are commercial sheet and pillowcase products that can be used as coverings during a reasonably short stay. While they tend to be bulky and heavy in today’s weight-restricted airline environment, many will find the protection well worth the packing dilemmas they may face. They go under the brand name AllerZip @ http://ow.ly/3NWz6
These sheets and pillow cases will help protect against allergies and bedbugs during your stay.
Likewise, luggage covers and drawer liners have been created to help prevent bedbugs from entering your belongings so you don’t end up transporting them home with you.
One of them is a brand called ‘Bug Zip’ which you can see them at http://ow.ly/3NWvQ
While travelling healthy should include a trip to your local travel health clinic, they will only discuss some of the actions you can take to try to avoid these terrible creatures. You can do other things on your own.
Most people place their luggage on a bed as soon as they arrive to unpack their belongings.
Don’t do that. Almost every hotel has a luggage stand. Place your bags on it immediately instead. It’s not that bedbugs are only in beds. They can be hiding in corners and even deep into carpet.
But raising your bags will help keep them away.
A city of Winnipeg website has an entire section on bedbugs at http://ow.ly/3NWIu which might be worth reviewing.
If you have travel questions email me at [email protected] Not only will I answer you but my response will be published, like this one, right here on tripatlas.
For more travel tips and information go to http://ow.ly/3NWMf