There is a well-known nursery rhyme that goes “Good night, sleep tight, do not let the bedbugs bite.” Mybe it is because people do not say this as often anymore, but the bedbugs are starting to bite again these days. Recently, it has been reported that bedbugs are re-emerging, starting from France, and there is a growing fear among the public about bedbug infestations. In response to this, the Dongguk Post aims to raise awareness by covering basic information about bedbugs, recent spread, and methods of control and prevention.
The recent spread of bedbugs
The bedbug is a small, flat, parasitic insect that feeds on the blood of humans and animals while sleeping. It can survive for several months without feeding on blood. Indoors, it typically hides in the seams of beds and becomes active during the dark night. During the day, they hide in cracks in furniture or bedroom walls, emerging for blood-feeding activity during the night.
In early October, there was a controversy over the spread of bedbugs, with videos on social media showing their presence in public places such as trains and subways in France. Reports of bedbugs being found in places like movie theaters and Charles de Gaulle Airport have been received, and as the problem worsened, Emmanuel Gregoire, the deputy mayor of Paris, sent a letter to the government urging immediate measures, especially considering Paris is preparing for the Olympics next year.
In Korea, there are signs of an increase in bedbugs, and fear of bedbug infestations is rapidly spreading. An official from the Korean Association for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that inquiries about bedbugs have increased a few times a year to about five cases per day.
How to exterminate and prevent bedbugs
So, what are the methods of extermination and prevention for theses pests? First, there are various ways to detect bedbugs. One can suspect bedbugs if there are consecutive of circular bite marks on the skin, resembling two or three spots. Additionally, checking for traces of bedbug excrement of waste and shining a flashlight suddenly in a dark room can reveal bedbugs moving to hide in the darkness.
Upon discovering bedbugs, biological control should be prioritized, and chemical control should be used as a supplementary measure. Since bedbugs cannot withstand high temperatures, a physical control method involves spraying high-temperature steam into the furniture and wall crevices where bed bugs inhabit, through a pest control company. Additionally, contaminated fabrics can be treated in a dryer at 50-60 degrees Celsius for at least 30 minutes. While insecticides are available for chemical control, physical control is considered more effective, especially as recent reports indicate bedbugs with increased resistance to insecticides imported from overseas.
Since bedbugs can spread by attaching to clothes or belonging, special caution should be taken during travel. To prevent bedbugs, it is advisable to thoroughly inspect furniture for the absence of bedbugs upon immediately visiting accommodation, avoiding storing luggage on the floor or bed, even if bedbugs are not visible. Furthermore, upon returning home after a trip, it is recommended to thoroughly disinfect travel items, and for fabrics like clothes, high-temperature washing is considered safe.
As the fear of bedbugs has recently spread, the government has established the “Bedbug Government Joint Countermeasure Headquarters” to address the situation systematically. Participating in this effort, the Ministry of Health and Welfare operates a “Bedbug Inspection and Control Period” to prevent the spread of bedbugs. As bedbugs are notoriously difficult to eradicate, individuals should be aware of preventive measures and control methods to avoid harm to the best of their ability.