Daily Archives: September 2, 2013

Can Bed Bugs be Prevented?

Stephen L. Doggett, Senior Hospital Scientist, Department of Medical Entomology, Westmead Hospital

This article is written by  Stephen L. Doggett, Director, Department of Medical Entomology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia

The global resurgence in bed bugs was as unexpected as it was dramatic and there are few signs that infestations across the world are on the decline. It is not so much a question of if your facility may become infested with bed bugs, but more of a case when.

Bed bugs are bloodsucking insects that can inflict a very nasty and irritating bite. The big problem is the associated financial costs. Bed bug eradication is expensive (even into the thousands) and if done poorly by the unskilled can result in the spreading of an infestation. This can substantially escalate control costs, even a hundred fold as has happened in with at least one facility in the past. Guests bitten are unlikely to return and the negative publicity generated can severely affect a hotel’s reputation. In one case, eight figure litigation (yes $20million!) was initiated as a result of a guest being attacked in an upper end hotel.

So what can you do to prevent bed bugs? The simple answer is very little. However, a great deal can be done to reduce the risk of bed bugs becoming established and developing into a major fiscal burden for your organisation.

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