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Date Published: 03/11/2023

Bedbug infestation spreads rapidly across Spain

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The number of reported cases in Spain has risen by 71% compared to last year

Bedbug infestation spreads rapidly across Spain

Bedbug populations are again booming across Spain, Portugal and France, causing endless problems for hotels and private homes alike. These troublesome critters have no problem travelling for long periods of time in suitcases and backpacks and will quickly settle into mattresses, sofas and any other kind of fabric.

Last summer in Spain, bedbugs made a comeback thanks to the sudden boom in tourism following the pandemic but this year, the issue is even more serious according to pest removal specialists Anticimex, who explained that reported cases have increased by 71% in the first nine months.

Scientific expert Luis Quevedo added that the biggest outbreaks so far have been seen in Madrid, Catalonia, the Valencian Community which includes popular holiday resorts like Alicante and Benidorm, and the Balearic Islands.

Several hotel owners on the famous Camino de Santiago trail have also reported infestations, claiming that the pesky insects are being carried from town to town in pilgrims’ rucksacks.

But why are bedbugs running rampant all of a sudden?

The pests, which can deliver a painful bite to humans, were considered almost completely eradicated since the middle of the last century but with climate change and rising global temperatures have seen a resurgence.

“The heat is one of the factors suspected to be behind it. We are still not very clear how it will affect them in the long term, but it is true that in a context of climate change, with these two years of so much heat, these bugs reproduce faster. If before it took a month between laying eggs and having a new generation, now it can be reduced to less than two weeks. This is exponential growth, very fast,” explained Mr Quevedo.

To make matters worse, they’ve also become partially immune to pesticides.

What harm do they do?

Bedbugs are haematophagous parasites, which means that they feed on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals. They can’t fly, in fact they hardly move at all, instead hiding in the mattress to snack on us during the night.

While not exactly dangerous, their bite can cause skin irritation and itching.

How to get rid of bedbugs

The experts are adamant that a bedbug infestation isn’t a sign of lack of cleanliness. The best way to banish the bugs is to wash all clothes and bedding at at least 60ºC and to keep suitcases and luggage away from bedrooms.

The insects and their eggs can also be killed by blasting clothes and sheets in the dryer on a high heat for 20 minutes. A steam cleaner can also be effective on mattresses.

Sometimes though, the infestation can get out of hand and in these cases it’s best to call in the professionals.

In other news: More than a thousand people join anti-tourism march in Spain

Image: CDC/ Harvard University via Wikimedia Commons

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