Bedbugs: What you need to know for worry-free travel - The Straits Times

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.

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