"Bedbugs Can Appear Even in 5-Star Hotels"
Government to Implement Intensive Pest Control Period Starting the 13th
As bedbug sightings have become more frequent, the government is operating a focused extermination period starting from the 13th, putting all efforts into eradicating bedbugs, while citizens' anxiety is also increasing. Experts explain that bedbugs have strong survival abilities, capable of enduring for over a year without feeding on blood.
On the 13th, Lee Hyun Shin, director of the Korea Pest Control Association Research Institute, said in an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "Bedbugs can endure hunger for a long time and can live for about a year in environments around 15 degrees Celsius," adding, "Because of their strong endurance, bedbugs can fly and move between countries. They last much longer than cockroaches."
Their reproductive capacity is also vigorous. According to Director Shin, female bedbugs lay more than 200 eggs in their lifetime.
Bedbugs are introduced from outside, so they are unrelated to the hygiene of the living environment. Director Shin said, "Whether dirty or clean, high-end or low-end, for lodging facilities, there are even 5-star hotels," adding, "But bedbugs are not significantly related to the environment. Even if you live in a luxurious place, you cannot avoid being bitten by bedbugs."
However, it is advisable to pay attention to cleaning, even just to confirm bedbug presence. Director Shin said, "The important thing is that this does not mean you can skip cleaning," adding, "While cleaning, you might unknowingly vacuum up bedbugs and catch them, and if tidying and cleaning are well done, it becomes much easier to detect bedbugs."
Amid growing concerns about the nationwide spread of bedbugs, on the morning of the 9th, officials from the Yongsan District Public Health Center conducted pest control operations to exterminate bedbugs in the Dongja-dong gosiwon area of Yongsan-gu, Seoul. [Photo by Yonhap News]
The government will operate a focused bedbug extermination period for four weeks starting from this day. The government and local governments plan to inspect public places where bedbugs are likely to appear, such as lodging facilities, bathhouses, medical institutions, nursing facilities, and daycare centers, and conduct preemptive disinfection work during this period.
In the case of Seoul, bedbug occurrence reports are being accepted through the Seoul city website's 'Seoul Bedbug Occurrence Report Center' or via the 120 Dasan Call Center by phone.
According to Song Eun-cheol, head of the Infectious Disease Management Division of Seoul City, who appeared on the radio program on the same day, contrary to citizens' concerns, bedbug occurrences have not yet been confirmed in public transportation within Seoul.
Director Song explained, "So far, there have been no confirmed cases of bedbug occurrences in public transportation within Seoul," adding, "A small number of bedbugs might attach to clothes or belongings and enter public transportation, but the environment of public transportation itself is not suitable as a habitat for bedbugs, so the possibility of transmission to passengers is very low."
Director Song said, "Experts agree that responding to bedbug occurrences is not a one-time action but a long-term project," adding, "We ask citizens to trust Seoul City and help create a hygienic living environment, and we will do our best with the mindset of complete eradication from the start."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
