NATIONWIDE. (WIFR) – If you're planning a getaway this spring, experts say you may want to keep an eye out for unwanted pests lurking in your favorite vacation destinations.
Over the past four months, Hotels in Las Vegas along the strip have reported bedbug infestations. From the Mirage to the Venetian, no hotel is safe from the wake of six-legged pests. Experts say the appearance of bedbugs has nothing to do with the cleanliness of a residence or building, which makes them all the more prevalent.
From our clothes to our beds to our means of transportation, bed bugs will find their way. Pearson Plumbing, Heating and Pest Control President Matt Morgan says no matter where your spring travel takes you, keep your eyes peeled for little intruders.
“Go ahead and pull the corner sheet down to the mattress and what you're trying to find almost looks like a sort of rusty tint and that will show bed bug activity,” says Morgan.
When we sleep, the parasites move down our skin, leaving a unique pattern of bites in the form of a line. The line quickly turns into an itchy rash that can be treated with a topical ointment. Although bites are not known to transmit disease to humans, signs of infection such as the appearance of fluid or swelling should be shown to a healthcare professional. Tolulope Olu-Lawal, OSF internal medicine physician, advises removing from the infested area as soon as you notice bites and disinfecting it.
“If there is no superimposed infection, it will usually resolve on its own,” says Olu-Lawal. “But the problem is that most of the time we manage it and our patients go back to the same place where they got bed bugs in the first place, and it becomes a cycle.”
One of the best ways to get rid of these pests is to wash and dry all items above 120 degrees, Morgan suggests. This heat will kill any lingering bed bugs. If the problem persists, it's time to seek professional help.
Burpee Museum Educator Stewart Cook shares that bed bugs are one of the few species specifically adapted to target humans. Their transparent, sticky eggs easily cling to any fabric they come into contact with. He says their size and flat body make them very easy to miss, especially in areas like hotels and public transportation where you don't regularly inspect the area.
“They can really infest any type of space that we inhabit,” Cook says. “This includes not only beds but also seats, especially on public transport such as buses. You have to worry about where you are traveling.
A study of Pest World reveals that only 25% of people check their hotel rooms for bedbugs. Additionally, only 12% inspect or vacuum after returning home.
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