Fears Of Bedbug Invasion Sparks Panic Buying Of Insecticides In Hong Kong

 

People in Hong Kong have been panic-buying insecticides and employing pest control services as the city's dread of bedbugs grows, according to the South China Morning Post. A photo of bedbugs on an Airport Express train was widely posted online last week. After a thorough cleaning, no such insects were discovered on the train. However, the popular image sparked fear among residents about a possible surge of bedbug infestations from South Korea, France, and the United Kingdom.

Bedbugs, in particular, are little, oval-shaped parasitic, nocturnal bloodsuckers whose bites can cause rashes. Bedbugs are the moniker given to these blood-sucking pests because they like to nest in mattresses. They emerge at night to consume human blood.

Mr. Francisco Pazos, owner and head technician of pest treatment company Nobedbugs-HK, claimed the firm has a ''unbelievable'' quantity of work, having ''done a month's work in the last three days''.

''Hong Kong is like Disneyland for bedbugs... because it is so thick, there are many locations for them to lay eggs but also go from person to person,'' he told SCMP.

Platform for e-commerce Pest control and bedbug-killing goods have also witnessed a 172-fold surge in sales on Shopline.

Following reports of bedbug infestations in South Korea, France, and the United Kingdom, Hong Kong officials issued bedbug warning pamphlets to airport passengers last week. 

''Although information shows that bedbugs do not carry diseases, bedbug bites may cause skin allergy and irritation, making individuals feel uncomfortable,'' said a Hong Kong government spokesperson. As a result, the government takes rapid action to reduce the possibility of bedbug transmission from outside to the United States.

However, an expert stated that bug infestations might be avoided via proper hygiene and easy precautions.

Bedbugs infiltrated France's capital Paris last month, barely 10 months before the 2024 Summer Olympics. During the summer, the microscopic bugs were first discovered in hotels and rental apartments throughout the city. Moviegoers reported seeing these bugs in theaters, while some passengers claimed seeing them crawling around on seats on high-speed trains and the Paris Metro. 

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Bedbugs were eradicated from daily life in France in the 1950s, but their comeback is primarily owing to increased population density and mass transit.