Brief
Travelers warned to inspect hotel rooms for bedbugs after recent outbreaks
Guidance from pest‑management expert Dr Cassie Krejci explains how to spot bedbugs and steps to take if they are discovered.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Bedbug sightings on a Qantas flight from Italy to Australia and on Southeastern trains in East Sussex have prompted travel advice on how to check hotel rooms for the pests, according to the Independent.
What happened
The aircraft was grounded for a deep clean after a bedbug outbreak was identified, and several trains operating from the West Marina depot near Hastings were taken out of service in October because of the insects.
What the report adds
The Independent notes that a monitoring company, Valpas, found bedbugs in one in every 42 hotel rooms it surveyed, and that cases in London and other major European cities are rising by about 20 % a year.
What was said
Dr Cassie Krejci, vice‑president of transformation at pest‑management firm Forshaw, told the Independent, “Bedbugs are a problem for all travellers, regardless of destination. They are not a symptom of uncleanliness or bad habits otherwise, but rather the consequence of an insect’s success.” She added, “Visitors should worry about bringing bed bugs home from any trip, particularly those in cities where we are seeing a notable increase in the number of infestations reported.”
How to check for bedbugs
Krejci recommends rolling a suitcase onto a tiled surface before inspecting the room, turning off the lights and using a phone torch, and examining mattresses, seams, furniture and wall hangings for rust‑coloured dots, exoskeletons, dried excrement or tiny yellow eggs. She also suggests smelling for a musty odour likened to expired raspberries or coriander, which can indicate a large infestation.
Key facts
- A Qantas flight from Italy to Australia was cancelled for a deep clean after a bedbug outbreak. (independent.co.uk)
- Southeastern trains from West Marina depot in East Sussex were taken out of service in October due to bedbugs. (independent.co.uk)
- Valpas reported bedbugs in one in every 42 hotel rooms it inspected. (independent.co.uk)
- Bedbug cases are rising by about 20 % a year in London and other major European cities. (independent.co.uk)
- Dr Cassie Krejci of Forshaw advises travelers to roll suitcases on tiled areas and use a torch to spot bedbugs. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “How to check for bedbugs in your hotel room – and what to do if you spot one”
