Warning As Bed Bug Infestations Rise

Scots have been warned to be on the look out for bed bugs as environmental health experts report a dramatic rise in infestations across the globe.

Around 50 members of the Royal Environmental Health Institute for Scotland gathered in Glasgow to discuss moves to tackle the problem. It follows a 4500% surge in the bed bug population in Australia between 1999 and 2006, and by 71% since 2001 in the United States.

In the UK there has been an increase in pest control call-outs for bed bugs of 26% between 2002 and 2007 but environmental health experts are keen to intervene before the problem gets out of hand.

John McNeice, director of Fife-based Scottish Pest Control Services, said his firm were now dealing with the highest number of bed bug call-outs in its 16 year history. He said: "We've probably seen a 15 to 20% rise in the number of bed bug call-outs over the past two years. We operate mainly in Edinburgh and the Central Belt, but if you speak to other pest control companies across the country they're reporting the same thing."

Mr McNeice said the majority of their call-out were to domestic properties, B&Bs and small hotels, where bad cleaning habits were allowing the bed bugs to spread. He said: "If there's an infestation, you have to isolate the room right away. In some of these places, the cleaners are dumping bedsheets altogether on the floor outside or taking the hoover from room to room, which causes cross- contamination."

Pat Hoey of the institute, said: "We don't have a major problem in the UK at the moment and we don't want it to become a major problem. But we need to build up statistics to understand what's happening, and we need to understand the reasons for the problem in order to tackle it."

The institute suggested the introduction of a European Code of Practice which will give guidance to homeowners, landlords, and the health and tourist industries on how to tackle outbreaks.

Oliver Madge, of the Bed Bug Foundation, believes the increase is the result of increased international travel, immigration, exchange of second-hand furniture and ignorance. He said: "We're seeing people go afield to more unusual destinations, as well as more people coming and going from Eastern Europe. But there's also an issue of people buying cheap second-hand furniture in the recession, as well as public ignorance and the social stigma attached to bed bugs."

If you believe that you may have a bed bug infestation, it is vital that you contact your local pest control company as soon as possible. Bed bugs are expert hitch-hikers and can easily spread given half a chance.

Article provided by Scottish Pest Control Services