Gross.
People going on holidays in Ireland have been warned to be on the lookout for the presence of bed bugs in their accommodation.
The warning comes from Rentokil, who reported a 66% increase in the number of call outs to deal with infestations of bed bugs this year.
They warned that a common cause of the spread of bed bugs is the transportation of the pests through clothing and other baggage, so a hotel’s bed bug problem can easily be transferred to your own home when you leave.
Not surprisingly, Dublin is the county which accounted for the most callouts for bed bugs so far this year, with 36% of all callouts to the capital. Galway (14%), Cork (10%) and Kerry (8%) are the next three counties which accounted for the most callouts for bed bugs.
Richard Faulkner, Advanced Technical Field Consultant for Rentokil said: “Bed bugs lay eggs and multiply at alarming rates, and the size of these pests can make them difficult to spot. At this time of year more and more people are enjoying a trip away, but unfortunately this increases their risk of returning home with unwanted guests.
“We consider hotels and B&Bs to be areas of high risk due to the volume of guests that come in and out, so we recommend that holidaymakers be vigilant in both researching a place before booking and inspecting a room for signs of bed bugs upon arrival. We also recommend that if hotels become aware of a bed bug infestation, they have it taken care of immediately.”
Rentokil advised travellers to check for the following warning signs:
- The presence of dark stains on the mattress and surrounding area from bed bug excreta.
- An unpleasant, sweet, sickly scent in the room.
- Small dark blood spots on bedding known as ‘faecal spotting’.
- Live insects – despite being small (4-5mm long) it’s possible to spot live bed bugs and shed skins. Key areas to check include bed frames and mattresses, bedside cabinets, wardrobes, and skirting boards.
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