Irish holidaymaker’s urged to be wary of bed bugs – Kildare Now

Rentokil, Irelands leading pest control provider, is warning Irish holidaymakers to be on the lookout for the presence of bed bugs as they return from their holidays.

A common cause of the spread of bed bugs is the transportation of the pests through clothing and other baggage, so a hotel or rental accommodations bed bug problem can easily become an issue in your own home. These pests feed on human blood, usually when homeowners are asleep, andbed bug bites can become sore and itchyin some cases.

Rentokil has recorded a 40% increase in callouts this year compared to the same period (January April) in 2021. Dublin is the county which has accounted for the most callouts for bed bugs so far this year, with 28% of all callouts to the capital. Cork (14%), Donegal (9%) and Galway (5%) are the next three counties which accounted for the most callouts for bed bugs from Rentokil.

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. With the Easter holiday coming to an end and people returning from all around the world, this unfortunately increases the risk of returning home with unwanted guests.

We consider hotels, B&Bs and holiday rentals to be areas of high risk due to the volume of guests that pass through them. We recommend that holidaymakers be vigilant in both inspecting their room and luggage for signs of bed bugs.We also recommend that if accommodation owners become aware of a bed bug infestation, they have it taken care of immediately

Top bed bug warning signs include:

For holidaymakers who do unintentionally bring bed bugs into their home, Rentokil recommends that they check luggage before packing and unpacking, inspect the bed, wash and dry clothes at the highest possible temperatures, eliminate clutter, and vacuum thoroughly.

These steps can greatly reduce the size of the bed bug population but may not eliminate the problem entirely. If the problem persists, its advisable to call a professional pest control service.

Visit link:
Irish holidaymaker's urged to be wary of bed bugs - Kildare Now