BED BUG infestations have soared across Ireland over the past month following the return of thousands of fans from the Paris Olympics.
Huge efforts were made by French authorities to curb the spread of the unwanted parasites in the run-up to both the Olympic Games and more recently, the Paralympics.
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But an unusual spike in bed bug infestations in Irish homes since early September suggests tiny blood-sucking insects have arrived here in large numbers from the French capital.
It was a similar trend following the Rugby World Cup in Paris late last year, which resulted in record levels of infestations due to returning fans unwittingly transporting bed bugs back home with them in their luggage.
Although the latest number of cases appears to be lower than last year’s record high, the past few weeks have seen infestations rise to their highest level of the year.
Trevor Hayden, who runs nationwide company Complete Pest Control, said: “We noticed a big surge in calls about bed bugs two or three weeks after the end of the Olympics, and I would think we’ve been getting an average of about 25 calls a day since the start of September.
“That’s a lot more than you’d expect at this time of year, and it’s the highest number we’ve dealt with all year.
“I can only put that down to the thousands of Irish fans coming back over from the Paris Olympics.
“Certainly it would make sense that Paris is the main source of the bed bug infestations we’ve been dealing with.”
Notoriously difficult to eliminate, bed bugs typically hide in mattresses and bedding and can survive for months while waiting for their next meal.
Hayden continued: “I think we’re likely to be dealing with bed bug cases right through to Christmas.
“There’s one particular case I’m dealing with at the moment that’s going to take us a couple of months to get to the bottom of.
“There must be tens of thousands of bedbugs in this particular residence, and it’ll require multiple treatments.”
Meanwhile, bed bugs aren’t the only pest inflicting misery on householders – with mosquito infestations having soared to record levels over the summer.
Hayden added: “Unfortunately mosquitoes are still around at the moment, and that’s because of the nice weather we’ve been having lately.
“We’re not seeing as many as we did in July and August, but it’s still a serious problem.”
How to get rid of bed bugs
Bed bugs can be killed in the following ways:
- Flea spray – Common flea spray can be used to kill bed bugs.
- Exposure to direct heat — If you find bed bugs on your bedding, put them straight into the washing machine and the heat will kill them.
- Vacuum clean — If you get your vacuum out as soon as you see the bugs, they will most likely die when you suck them up, but make sure to carry the vacuum outside straight away just in case.
- Steam clean — If you have a steamer to hand, steam your sheets right away and the heat will kill the bed bugs.
- Rubbing alcohol — One of the most popular ways to get rid of bed bugs is using rubbing alcohol. If you dilute some with water and use a spray bottle, the bugs will die almost instantly.
- White vinegar — You can use white distilled vinegar on the edges of infested areas and spray it on the blighters directly. However, it needs to be in direct contact with the critters and will only work on adult bugs.
- Professional treatment — To get rid of bed bugs once and for all you may need to call in a professional. They will have all the appropriate chemicals and tools to eradicate the issue.