The recent high temperatures have revived the once eradicated bedbugs in Beijing according to experts via a China Daily report. Bedbugs feed on human blood and these nocturnal insects cause skin irritation that result in a trip to the hospital whereas other people do not react to the bite. Here is a run down of everything about bedbugs and a H7N9 update
How do they spread?
Bedbugs don’t usually stay on their human hosts after their meal, but they might take refuge in clothes or luggage left nearby on the floor. While bedbugs may hitchhike on your belongings, they can also crawl about as fast as a ladybug. So they can easily travel between floors and rooms in hotels or apartment complexes.
Where do they hide?
During the day, bedbugs hide in the cracks and crevices of:
- Mattresses
- Box springs
- Bed frames
- Headboards
They also can be found:
- Under peeling paint and loose wallpaper
- Under carpeting near baseboards
- In upholstered furniture seams
- Under light switch plates or electrical outlets
Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation
- There are many possible signs of bed bug activity. The first would be seeing the bugs. Adult bed bugs are about the shape and size of an apple seed. A second sign would be case skins. As the juvenile bugs grow, they shed their skins, discovery of which can indicate their presence.
- After feeding, bed bugs return to their harborage to hide. They eventually defecate in these areas, which appears as black to brown stains on porous surfaces or black to brown mounds on nonporous surfaces.
- Bites also may indicate bed bug activity, but further signs will need to be found, since other sources can cause red welts on the skin, the best decision would be to hire bed bug control services to determine if you have a bed bug problem.
Symptoms of a Bed Bugs Bite
It can be difficult to distinguish bedbug bites from other insect bites. In general, the sites of bedbug bites usually are:
- Red, often with a darker red spot in the middle
- Itchy
- Arranged in a rough line or in a cluster
- Located on the face, neck, arms and hands
Some people have no reaction at all to bedbug bites, while others experience an allergic reaction that can include severe itching, blisters or hives.
When to see a doctor: if you experience allergic reactions or severe skin reactions to your bedbug bites, see your doctor for professional treatment.
Measures to keep Bed Bugs at Bay
- When at home, follow these handy tips to help keep bed bugs at bay.
- Remove all clutter from your home, which makes finding bed bugs easier.
- Wash and dry your bed linens often using the hottest temperature allowed for the fabric.
- Closely inspect any second-hand furniture for bed bugs before you bring it into your residence.
- Inspect your residence regularly—after a move-in, a trip, when a service worker comes in or guests stay overnight.
Bed bugs can only be treated with the right pesticide therefore call your house agent and property office and notify them about the infestation so that they can help get appropriate pest control professionals.
Sourced from Mayo Clinic and Orkin
Editor’s Note: H7N9 Update
A 61-year-old patient who was admitted in Beijing infected by the H7N9 avian flu died from multiple organ failure on Monday. This takes the total number of deaths in Mainland China to 134 this year. The government in May had relaxed their emergency response but was still monitoring the situation according to a China Daily report. It is being said the numbers are likely to increase in fall and winter.
Take a look here at the necessary measures to be taken to prevent getting infected as last week it was reported that the virus could spread from human to human.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia commons
