Recent Surge in Bed Bugs Partially Due to Lax Travelers
They're getting stronger.
Due to an increased immunity to insecticides, the dreadful curse of bed bugs is back in America and spreading. Experts believe that a new strain of bed bugs resistant to DDT — the insecticide not-so-commonly known by its full name, Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane — has developed in recent years.
Michael Potter, a professor of entomology at the University of Kentucky, told the Telegraph that the problem has been getting worse in recent years as products meant to exterminate bed bugs are simply not as effective as they once were. He also attributes some of the problems associated with bed bugs to less attentive travelers. "Back in the day, they knew to check beds when travelling or after people paid them a visit. Folks are so busy these days, bed bug prevention often takes a back seat to other pressing issues," he said.
Some believe that the bed bugs have spread with travelers themselves, potentially by tagging along in luggage. After all, the unwelcome insects have made appearances on airlines, like last year's British Airways flight incident in which a crew refused to fly on a plane allegedly visibly infested with bed bugs.
It goes without saying that bed bugs are not only a huge turn-off for travelers, but they can also be a quite scarring experience for anyone who comes face-to-face with them. Besides making people extremely squeamish and itchy — you're probably itching yourself just reading this — owner of My Bed Bug Lawyer Brian Virag notes that bed bugs can also lead to allergic reactions, bleeding and scarring.
"There has been some really really bad stuff, even bed bugs harboring in people's ears and laying eggs," he shared. "Emotionally it has been nasty and in some cases humiliating."
Whether you are trying to avoid picking up bed bugs during your travels or have an invasion of your own on your hands, read our comprehensive breakdown of how to avoid and deal with bed bugs while traveling. It's always smart to check up on your prospective hotel's track record and be aware of what to look for.
H/T: The Telegraph
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The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month