Bedbugs back at British hotels

www.independent.co.uk

According to a new survey, bedbugs are bothering guests at hotels across Britain, as evidenced by the number of complaints lodged.

Bedbugs are bloodsucking insects that travel around in luggage and on clothing, biting people as they sleep. According to UK pest control experts, they have been on the increase in recent years.

A survey of complaints lodged with councils has found that the bedbug problem is increasing at some of Britain’s popular tourist destinations.

The area worst hit has been central London, but hotels in Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and Sheffield have also been affected.

According to local council report, two guests required treatment at A&E, including one who had suffered blood poisoning from the bedbug bites.

One woman said that when she awoke, she found between 60 and 100 bites and that her boyfriend must have had closer to 300.

A visitor from New Zealand complained that she was covered with bites from head to foot and that her holiday had been ruined.

The Independent obtained reports of a number of the complaints, and many involved budget hotels. There were incidents, however, at some top-end properties that charge hundreds of pounds per night.

Pest control specialist Rentokil reported that bedbug cases doubled in 2008, with a 40 per cent increase in call-outs from airlines and bus and train companies.

Experts say that a warmer climate and an increase in international travel are likely to be causing the increase in bedbug numbers.

www.independent.co.uk