Following a spate of outbreaks, South Korea has become the latest nation to declare war on bedbugs, placing bathhouses, college dorms, and train stations throughout the nation on high alert.
Since the end of October, thirty infestations—either confirmed or suspected—have been reported, leading the authorities to declare a four-week campaign to eradicate the bloodsucking bugs.
Following previous extermination programs, the nation has been essentially bedbug-free; since 2014, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention (KDCA) has only received nine reports of infestations.
Social media is flooded with images and stories of people’s experiences with the insects, adding to the public’s worry over the pests’ abrupt reappearance. This comes after reports of similar outbreaks in France and the UK as well as an increase in instances in the US.
While some websites have created sections just for the topic and allow readers to share recommendations on how to cope with the pests—from standing on public transportation to avoiding the cinema—pest control services have reported receiving an overwhelming number of requests for assistance.
A portion of the comments express the perplexity and anxiety of a public that has, for the most part, not had to deal with the pests in many years.
One person questioned on a website, “Should I throw away all electronics if I spot a bedbug?” Another user questioned, “Would the bugs get on me if I put double-sided tape around my mattress?”
“I’d rather have the Covid than bedbugs,” remarked another.
dread of being stigmatized
Experts predict that the present outbreak will worsen before it gets better, with some of the worry stemming from people’s fear of being ostracized if they get bitten.
Although bedbugs do not transmit disease, persons who scratch them excessively may experience secondary skin infections and insomnia as a result of the itching from their bites. The insects have a diameter of less than 1 cm (0.3 inch), hence getting bitten by one might potentially be considered embarrassing in public.
Following a crisis meeting on Tuesday that included 17 major cities, provincial governments, and pertinent ministries, a government official who asked not to be named so they could speak to the media said, “It’s unclear, at this moment, if the number of bedbug cases will increase but some individuals may hesitate to report them to the government due to concerns over being stigmatized for hygiene reasons.”
The official stated that to obtain a more complete picture of the situation, the government is currently working with private pest control companies. This is because some people may be reluctant to report cases directly to authorities for fear of the consequences on their reputations or businesses.
Following the Council of Ministers, Clement Beaune, the Deputy Minister for Ecological Transition, was in the Elysee Palace. 20 September 2023, Paris. (Image courtesy of NurPhoto/Andrea Savorani Neri)
“Everyone is in danger,” France declares as bedbugs prowl Paris.
The South Korean government is getting so worried that it is rushing the introduction of new pesticide varieties in case the ones that are currently on the market aren’t potent enough to finish the job.
Pest control businesses, meanwhile, claim they are overflowing with calls from people requesting assistance.
“Bedbug calls used to come in less than five times a year, but now we get two or three calls a day,” stated Eom Hae-won, CEO of Choa Clean, a pest management company located in Incheon.
According to him, the lack of bug outbreaks in the nation in recent years has left local enterprises with less experience in getting rid of pests, and the pesticides that are currently on the market are also less effective.
Therefore, Eom continued, “We are gathering bedbugs for study and experimentation purposes.”
Seoul going bedbug hunting
Under the “Zero Bedbugs City, Seoul” effort, the city administration of Seoul is establishing a new “Bedbug Reporting and Management System” and claims to be inspecting 3,175 lodging establishments, bathhouses, and jjimjilbangs (Korean saunas with changing temperatures).
According to a news release from the municipal government, “These special inspections will continue through the year-end holiday season, particularly in areas with a high concentration of accommodation and bathhouses, which are popular among foreign residents.”
Some of Seoul’s poorest people live in small housing units known as jjokbang or gosiwon, which typically size roughly 3-6 square meters (30-60 square feet). The city has announced that it will also give pest management support for these apartments.
Subways and movie theaters are two other high-risk locations. The government claims that as part of their initiative, subway seats would occasionally be steam-cleaned.
According to Park Yoo-mi, a senior health official in Seoul, “bedbugs are pests that cause discomfort, allergies, psychological as well as economic harm due to their blood-feeding habits—even though they do not transmit diseases.”
How to defeat the insects
Strong insecticide resistance has been seen, according to research by Seoul National University’s Lee Si-hyeock, professor of Agricultural Biotechnology, “even if they are soaked in the solution with high concentration.”
“The problem of bedbug resistance needs to be addressed, but it hasn’t gotten much attention up until this point.”
Although there haven’t been many bedbugs in the nation recently, Lee Hee-il, division director of Vectors and Parasitic Disease at the KDCA said that it wasn’t the case.
He hypothesized that the rise in post-Covid travel and the insects’ developing tolerance to pesticides could be contributing factors to the outbreaks.
These days, heating is the most efficient way to deal with bedbugs because they are becoming resistant to the insecticides we typically employ. It turns out that the bugs and their eggs may be killed at roughly 45 degrees Celsius,” Lee revealed.
He explained that getting rid of bedbugs and their eggs from fabric might be accomplished using an iron or dryer.
“The best course of action is to prevent bedbugs from entering your home, as it is widely acknowledged that eliminating bedbugs is a challenging task,” he stated. “Proactive and early action is essential.”
According to the Seoul City Government’s “Bedbug Prevention and Response Guidelines,” individuals should refrain from bringing objects that could potentially get infested into their homes. It indicates that old books and worn furniture are high-risk products.
Furthermore, it states that “repairing damaged areas like cracks and wallpaper can minimize potential bedbug habitats.”
