SINGAPORE - From Paris to London, then Seoul and Hong Kong. No, this is not the glittery lifestyle of a jet-setting supermodel, but the scourge of bedbugs spreading across the globe. 

Following reports of bedbug infestations in South Korea, France and Britain, people in Hong Kong are reportedly buying insect killers and hiring pest control services.

This, after the city’s rail operator MTR carried out a deep cleaning of some of its trains, following a widely shared photo of a brown, oval-shaped insect on an Airport Express train seat.

Bedbug hitchhikers travellers’ nightmare

Resembling apple seeds, bedbugs are tiny, wingless pests that are just 5mm long. Spotting one can be very tricky since they are most active at night.

Bedbug bites do not transmit diseases, but cause severe itching, according to Singapore’s national health platform HealthHub.

Their bites are recognisable as clusters of red bumps on areas of the body that are usually not covered up, such as the neck, arms and legs.

According to HealthHub, many of those affected do not seek formal medical treatment, so the exact number of bedbug cases in Singapore is unclear. Those bitten rarely develop complications and the itchiness eventually subsides.

Travel agencies doing their best 

Travel agencies in Singapore are taking steps to tackle any bedbug issues. 

Travel operator Chan Brothers Travel’s senior marketing communications manager Jeremiah Wong said that none of its tour groups has reported issues with bedbugs so far.

But it has implemented several measures to protect its travellers: for example, its bus drivers at the destinations have “heightened their daily cleaning and disinfection of coaches”.

Also, during a trip, if travellers suspect they have been bitten by bedbugs, they would have their rooms changed and be accompanied to the doctor for treatment.

“We also encourage all our travellers to purchase travel insurance to cover any exigency,” said Mr Wong.

Similarly, Dreamcation Cruises and Tours said it is not taking any chances, though none of its clients has reported issues with bedbugs so far.

“As part of our proactive measures, we ensure strict safety precautions, sanitising all luggage before boarding our buses and checking in to hotels. If there’s any suspicion about a specific piece of luggage, our team will isolate it immediately,” explained the travel agency.

The isolated luggage then undergoes a thorough inspection and cleaning process to minimise any potential impact on other travellers, Dreamcation added.

“The travel packages include medical coverage. In the event of any health concerns, including those related to bedbugs, affected individuals can claim medical expenses for their health concerns,” it said.

The prospect of being bitten by bedbugs while travelling has deterred avid traveller Nur Illazabella, who had wanted to visit Paris in 2023.

“I’d rather wait for the bedbug wave to dissipate completely. Better wait than be sorry,” said the 27-year-old, adding that she would visit the French capital in mid-2024 instead.

Ms Nisha Suni, who is currently on vacation in London and Manchester, said she is worried about the bedbug situation, especially with the train system there as bedbugs could be hiding in the cushioned seats on the trains.

As a precaution, the 33-year-old checks her clothes every time she returns to her hotel, and avoids sitting in the Tube as much as possible.

But some travellers, like Ms Lisdiawaty Mansjur, are less worried about the bedbug situation.

“We shall try to look out for seats in trains that are made from cloth and avoid sitting on them,” the 45-year-old said.

She will be travelling, with her husband, to London for the first time at the start of December and is unfazed by the bedbug wave in recent months. Ms Lisdiawaty shared that she would be taking ointments to apply in case they are bitten by bedbugs.

Treating bites

As bedbug bites usually do not pose a serious medical threat, the best way to treat a bite is to avoid scratching the area and apply antiseptic creams or lotions, the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.

The CDC added that the best way to prevent bedbugs is regular inspection for any signs of an infestation, such as the seams and folds of luggage, overnight bags, folded clothes and bedding.

Aardwolf Pestkare, a pest management provider in Singapore, said: “There will be telltale signs such as black spots left behind by the bedbugs, or the exoskeletons of bedbugs on fabric items such as bedsheets and pillows.”

Travellers can also look at several ways to avoid bringing home bedbugs from their overseas trips.

“They may consider using BugZip luggage encasements, which can stop bedbugs from entering the luggage. On returning home, luggage should be inspected and kept isolated from the bedroom,” added Aardwolf Pestkare.

Although it is advisable to check the surroundings for any sign of infestation or even use common insect repellent (Deet) while travelling to ward off bedbugs, PestBusters’ advice to travellers is to wash their clothing in hot water as extreme heat will kill the pest and its eggs.

PestBusters recommends doing basic laundry with hot water first as a preventive measure. Then, hanging the clothes in hot weather would help, too, as it irritates the insect.

Bedbugs are “difficult to control”, said Aardwolf Pestkare, hence “a pest management professional should be consulted”.