Nationwide Fear of Bedbug Infestations... "Washing with Hot Water Above 60°C Is Effective"

"Bedbugs Mainly Active at Night... Difficult Breeding Environment"
"Sufficient Removal by Brushing Off Before Entering the House"

Bedbug sightings are spreading nationwide, causing a 'bedbug fear' to escalate. In particular, as bedbugs have been confirmed in places like jjimjilbangs and dormitories, more citizens are reluctant to use public spaces frequented by unspecified many people.

Recently, unverified posts claiming to have found bedbugs after using subways, trains, and KTX have also stirred online discussions. However, experts say the likelihood of bedbugs spreading and proliferating through public transportation is low.

Yang Young-cheol, a professor in the Department of Health, Environment, and Safety at Eulji University, appeared on YTN News Rider on the 8th and said, "In France, bedbug density is so high that one in every ten houses harbors them, and due to pesticide resistance, they spread widely through public transportation. But in Korea, bedbugs are not prevalent enough on public transportation to cause significant harm," adding, "There is no need to think of it as something to fear that much."

On the morning of the 8th, special insecticide spraying was carried out at the Yongsan Vehicle Depot of Gwangju Transportation Corporation in Dong-gu, Gwangju, to prevent the recent spread of bedbugs. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the possibility of bedbugs inhabiting fabric subway seats, he explained, "It is an environment where breeding is difficult on public transportation," and added, "They breed while feeding on blood, but public transportation is not a place where people stay continuously; they get on and off." He also said, "Bedbugs are mainly nocturnal and prefer to feed in the early morning hours," and "(Public transportation) is very bright during the day, so bedbugs do not actively move around."

About eyewitness accounts of finding bedbugs on public transportation, he mentioned that bedbugs living at home could be transferred via bags or other items. Professor Yang said, "(Bedbugs) can accidentally get into backpacks or bags. They can move onto seats or cushions and hide somewhere, then attach to passengers' trench coats or similar clothing when they sit down." He advised, "If you suspect this, you can simply take off your outerwear and shake it off once at the entrance before entering your home to effectively remove them."

In case of bedbug bites, he recommended, "It is necessary to carefully and thoroughly inspect the area around the bed. Bedbugs leave unique traces around their habitats that look like black mold stains," and advised, "In experiments with washable clothes, putting bedbugs into 50-degree Celsius hot water kills them in less than a minute. Washing at temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius would be even more effective."