Travelers' Guide to Avoiding Bed Bugs

A tiny insect the scale of AN apple seed is popping vacations into nightmares and giving U.S. travelers the disquietude whenever they enter a bedroom. bedbug, the common bed bug, came back to yank shores within the suitcases of international travelers. Over the past decade this blood-feeding parasite has been hitchhiking its method across the U.S. hidden within the bags of variant unsuspecting travelers. Spreading from the big apple town, the nation's busiest international entree, these insects have crept unrelentingly across yank to infest all fifty states.

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Over the past few years, bed bug infestations within the U.S. have inflated by five hundredth. Researchers cite travel because the No. one explanation for bed bug unfold and infestation. The the big apple town Department of data Technology & Telecommunications recently rumored a five hundredth increase in these pests complaints at hotels between 2009 and 2010. In heavily overrun cities in Ohio, quite seventieth of hotels have battled hemipteron infestations. consistent with the NPMA 2010 Comprehensive international Bed Bug Study conducted in conjunction with the University of Bluegrass State, 67% of 1,000 blighter management companies surveyed rumored treating bed bug infestations at a edifice or court within the past twelve months.

These pests kill human blood and aren't attracted by dirt or filth. "Bed bugs square measure brought into edifices by guests; it's not a hotel sanitation issue," the yank edifice and Lodging Association same in an exceedingly statement. These insects square measure as probably to be found in an exceedingly 5-star luxury edifice as a modest 1-star court. and there is the rub for travelers. A bedroom that's bed bug free one night are often overrun ensuing. This insect doesn't survive humans. They crawl into beds to feed, then scurry away, concealment in crevices close to beds till ensuing meal. Suitcases and portable computer computers placed on the bed create excellent concealment places for these pests. When travelers check out of an infested hotel room, a few of these pests are likely to stow away in their luggage, creeping out at the next hotel to infest another room or, even worse, following travelers home.

The growing prevalence of bed bugs in the U.S. is no reason to swear off travel and stay home; but travelers who don't want to bring pests home with them will want to be proactive before, during and after a trip. Use this handy guide to protect yourself from bed bugs when you travel.

Before you book a hotel room

• Check Bed Bug Registry and Trip Advisor online to see if bed bugs have been reported at your preferred hotel. If you find multiple reports, choose a different hotel. A new iPhone app, Bed Bug Alert by Apps Genius in New York City, also reports bed bug outbreaks in 10 major U.S. cities.

• Call the hotel and ask how often rooms are inspected for these insects and whether bed bug-proof encasements are installed on the beds.

Before you leave home

• Install bed bug-proof encasements and box springs on all the beds in your home.

• Educate yourself about bed bugs so you know what to watch for. Bed bugs are small, flat, wingless insects that feed on human blood. From cream-colored nymphs the size of a poppy-seed, bed bugs progress through 5 larval stages to become reddish brown, 1/4-inch long adults. When they feed, these insects leave bloody smears and black fecal dots that look like coffee grounds on bed sheets and mattresses. About 50% of people react to their bites and will exhibit itchy, red, mosquito-like bites, usually in rows or groups of three. Whitish skins shed throughout molt square measure another indication of bed bug infestation.