Traveler Warning: Keep Bed Bugs From Hitching Ride Home
Posted on May 17, 2008
Filed Under News |
FORT WORTH, Texas — As more people travel, blood-sucking bed bugs are finding their way back into more homes across the country. But, there are ways to keep those horrible hitchhikers from invading your home.
Bed bugs hide virtually anywhere in homes and then feed on your blood, leaving welts on your body while you’re fast asleep.
Richard Cooper, an entomologist who is one of the world’s leading experts on bed bugs, said that the bugs don’t spread disease but that they can be problematic.
“As an entomologist, there aren’t a lot of insects that creep me out and bedbugs are one creepy insect,” said Cooper. “People are waking up with very itchy welts and sometimes reactions are quite severe and they have no idea what’s causing it.”
Richard’s brother Phil, with BedBugCentral.com, said it can be quite costly to get rid of an infestation once the bugs have moved in.
“Once they get into the house or into your dwelling, it’s very expensive to get rid of and very troubling and traumatic. So you want to avoid getting them in the first place,” said Phil Cooper.
So, how do you avoid an infestation?
First, know that high-end hotels are not immune to bed bugs. Steritech, a pest control company, studied 700 hotels and 24 percent of them had bed bug activity.
Defend what you can control. At home, encase your mattress in plastic and make sure the zipper teeth are small and tight. Tests have shown that beg bugs can’t get through the plastic or zipper.
“Most people keep suitcases under their beds. Experts say this is the worst place to store luggage. You may be inviting bedbugs to bed with you,” NBC 5’s Meredith Land reported.
Experts also added that after a trip, seal your luggage in garbage bags and unpack outside. Additionally, keep hard goods, such as cosmetics and souvenirs, in ziplock bags.
Another tip: Sort laundry into bags before going inside and then wash and dry everything in hot water or have your clothes dry cleaned.
Finally, using a pest strip in suitcases or sprays to deter bedbugs from stowing-away in luggage is a good idea.
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