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Bedbug 101
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What are bedbugs?
They are blood-sucking parasites found worldwide. They come out of their hiding places at night and feed on the exposed skin of the host, usually without the knowledge of the person. They feed on blood, but are generally not believed to be transmitters of any infections. Adult bedbugs are about the size of an apple seed, up to 5mm long, and can survive up to a year without feeding.Here is how to avoid bringing bedbugs home with you:
Do your research
When planning where to stay, check for recent complaints of hotel infestations on BedbugRegistry.com or Bedbugger.comCheck reviews before booking a hotel room as guests who have encountered bedbugs are likely to mention this in their hotel review.
Inspect the room
Check the surface of the mattress and under the blankets, especially in the corners, mattress seams and around the headboard. Pay particular attention to cracks, crevices, seams and folds.Look for dried blackish spots, skin sheddings and even live bugs. Use a torch or the light from your smartphone to help you spot them more easily.
If you want to be extra careful, use a hairdryer and run it across the surfaces you are inspecting. The heat should send any bedbugs scurrying out.
Do not let them get into your luggage
When inspecting the room, place your luggage in the bathtub. Bedbugs generally do not like smooth, hard surfaces as they are difficult to hide in.When packing or unpacking your luggage, place it on the luggage rack away from walls, the bed or the couch - places where bedbugs commonly reside. But before doing this, check that there are no bedbugs on the luggage rack.
Pack your dirty clothes in sealable bags if you think you have been in bedbug-infested quarters.
There are several anti-bedbug sprays on the market, but experts have given them mixed reviews.
If bitten, do not scratch
Instead, wash the bites and treat them with an anti-itch cream or apply calamine lotion. Then seek advice from a medical professional.If an insect has burrowed into your skin, you are not dealing with a bedbug. Seek medical help immediately as it may be a tick, which can be a carrier of various diseases.
Upon your return, destroy any bugs or eggs in your luggage
Place your bags on the hard surface floor, not the sofa or the bed.Wash dirty clothes in warm or hot water, then dry them in a dryer on a hot setting. This is sufficient to kill bedbugs in clothing or linens.
Then, sun your bags under direct sunlight for at least 30 minutes.
If the infestation is localised, cleaning the area with a vacuum cleaner that produces hot steam is enough. But if the whole house is affected, it is advisable to engage a pest control company.
Source: Chan Brothers Travel, Dr Michael Chiam, Dr Sue-Ann Ho, Dr Yew Yik Weng, Lonely Planet website