Don't let the bed bugs bite! Czechia reports sharp rise in globetrotting pests

Nowadays, are parts of your body itchy in the morning, or do you sometimes see strange marks on your skin? There could be a good reason for this: according to a new press release by the State Health Institute (SZÚ), bed bugs are becoming more frequent in Czechia. 

SZÚ figures show that demand for bed bug extermination in Czechia is on the rise, with pest control companies in the country recently reporting a 15-percent rise in callouts compared to the beginning of this year.

Prague, like many other popular tourist destinations in Europe, is waging a battle against bed bugs in its accommodation facilities such as hotels, hostels, and university dormitories. According to workers at Prague’s main hygiene station, the occurrence of these pests is alarmingly high, with up to two mass cases reported each week. Bed bugs are notorious for their rapid multiplication and ability to spread via luggage or the soles of shoes.

Exterminators also note that the most common months for outbreaks of bed bugs are in August and September when people travel and move most often between different areas.

Spokesperson of Prague hygiene station Zbyňek Boublík said this week that the spread of bed bugs is related to the increased movement and mobility of people, adding “modern society has almost forgotten about these small parasites.”

While considered an annoyance, bed bugs are typically not dangerous; they do not carry or transmit disease-carrying bacteria. However, they can cause serious issues when a person is allergic to the bugs. The bites, then, can cause serious skin swelling, inflammation, and even anaphylaxis (a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that disrupts breathing).

By law, accommodation operators are required to conduct regular preventive disinsections and additional treatments if bed bugs are indeed found. The occurrence is then reported to the regional hygiene stations, which oversee the hygiene standards of accommodation in the city. Hygiene stations also have the power to visit an accommodation facility and make inspections for the presence of the bugs.

Petr Helekal from the pasti.cz anti-pest e-shop points out that bed bugs have developed resistance to some active substances, making the battle against them even harder. “Ordinary, universal [anti-pest] sprays will not harm them. Sprays developed specifically to control bed bugs must be used,” he says in Deník.cz.

The Central Bohemia region has in recent months reported the highest increase in bed bugs, at 33 percent, followed by the Moravia Silesia with a 27 percent rise. While the increase in demand for bed bug extermination services in the Czech Republic may not be as significant as in other countries, it highlights the need for continued vigilance and effective measures to control these resilient pests.