Paris is plagued by a bed bug infestation – and it could travel as far as Bremen in your luggage from your vacation. A pest controller from Bremen gives tips.
At the beginning of October, pictures of bed bugs began circulating on social media – from the Paris metro, the hotel, and supposedly the cinema. Videos show mattresses with bed bug droppings lying on the side of the road in front of Parisian apartments. The issue eventually made it onto the political agenda of the French National Assembly. And it’s autumn holidays in Bremen.
In Germany, the blood-sucking arachnids were long considered extinct. But they have been spreading again for several decades. One reason: People are traveling more, but trading in second-hand goods can also spread bed bugs. The Federal Environment Agency explains that the bugs have become resistant to many of the insecticides used to combat them.
But what does the current situation in France mean for Bremen? A Bremen exterminator provides answers.
What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are pinhead-sized animals and are therefore often overlooked. They can therefore be brought along as stowaways when traveling. At home, the animals, which are no more than 8.5 millimeters in size, feel particularly comfortable on mattresses because they are close to people whose blood they prefer as food. They can also occur on fabric furniture or on upholstered seats, for example on the train.
The animals spread quickly because they reproduce in just a few days, writes Bremer Schädlingskontrolle GmbH on its website on the subject of “bed bugs”.
How do I avoid bringing bed bugs back from vacation?
The best thing to do is check the hotel room for bed bugs or their droppings. The suitcase should not be stored directly next to the bed in the hotel, says Marie Deicke. She is an exterminator at JamiroTec Schädlingskontrolle GmbH in Bremen.
The suitcase should be stored in the bathtub or shower. The pests cannot crawl up the smooth walls.
(Marie Deicke, Bremen exterminator)
If there are extra luggage racks you can use them.
How does a bed bug infestation manifest itself?
Bed bugs can leave reddened bites on the body that cause severe itching. They usually bite on the arms and parts of the body not covered by clothing. They are a few millimeters to a few centimeters in size and can also appear as a series of stitches. The animals bite at night. But bites don’t always indicate bedbugs, says Marie Deicke. If you have a suspicion, you should look for clues.
In addition to traces of feces, blood stains can also be found on the sheet. The small animals are usually only discovered through an active search after finding traces of feces or blood. They can crawl into very narrow gaps.
What do I do if I have a bed bug infestation?
If there is an infestation, you should hire a professional pest controller. Pest controllers can clearly identify the insects and their moulting remains. If you want to solve the problem yourself, in the worst case scenario the pests can spread further, explains the exterminator. Bed bugs are stubborn and can survive without food for up to six months.
Washable items should be washed over 60 degrees for as long and as hot as possible, then the bed bugs and their eggs in the fabrics die, explains Marie Deicke. If you suspect bed bugs, you shouldn’t panic – rip-offs will take advantage of this and make overpriced home visits with products that have no effect. Marie Deicke recommends: The associations “German Pest Control Association” (DSV) and “Association for the Promotion of Ecological Pest Control” (Vfös) have member lists that are sorted by postal code. Exterminators listed there are checked for their reliability.
What is the current situation in Bremen?
The Bremen health department is not aware that there are increasing cases of bed bugs in Bremen. There are currently no increased reports of bed bug infestations. However, according to current knowledge, the crawling animals do not transmit any diseases, which is why the infestation does not need to be reported. It is therefore unclear what the current situation in Bremen looks like.
Biologist Björn Kleinlogel confirms that bed bugs are increasing worldwide. Despite the situation in Paris, calls about suspected bed bugs in Bremen are currently not increasing, according to Marie Deicke. The Federal Environment Agency also explains that the situation in France does not necessarily mean that bed bug infestations are increasing here.
We are dealing here with a phenomenon of increased media attention triggered by social networks. This does not mean that there is no bed bug problem in France. However, there was not a sudden outbreak of infestation, but rather a rapidly increasing public awareness of the problem.
(Federal Environment Agency)
Source : Tages Schau
