Problems with bedbugs are increasingly reported in Lithuania’s largest cities, with the number of calls for extermination doubling since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. Most cases have been reported in the capital Vilnius, as well as in Kaunas and Šiauliai.
“We used to have about three calls a week. Now we get so many calls in one day,” said Edgaras Valys, Development Manager at the pest control company Derapro.
Valys said that bedbugs usually live in wooden bed frames, especially under mattresses, where you can see their droppings – small black dots. “They feed on human blood,” he said, warning hotel guests to lift the mattresses and check for them.
He added that the parasites can go undetected for months. People with thicker skin may not feel the bites. But if someone visits, is bitten, and unknowingly brings home bedbugs with their clothes, they can spread.
According to the pest control company Sterilus, people are often unsure how bedbugs got into their homes and often blame neighbours or renovation work taking place nearby. Most reports come from apartment dwellers.
Several procedures are needed to eradicate bedbugs and Edgaras Baltrušaitis of Sterilus said that warmer weather and the fact that bedbugs have become more resistant to chemicals exacerbates the problem and home remedies such as vinegar do not usually work.
Getting rid of bedbugs usually requires professional help, which can cost several hundred euros.
International travel, second-hand goods
Biologist and pest control expert Liutauras Grigaliunas said there are several reasons for the increase in parasites, but one of the main ones is international travel. People often bring them home from hotels, camps, with luggage or second-hand furniture.
BEDBUGS HAVE BEEN FOUND IN LUXURY HOTELS AS WELL AS STUDENT DORMITORIES IN VILNIUS AND KAUNAS, HE SAID.
Doctors also report that patients often notice bites after travelling. The bites, which look like mosquito bites and are often in a line, usually appear on the arms, legs, back, neck or abdomen. Scratching them can cause infections, so it is important to disinfect and use anti-itch creams, said Rimante Pakutiene-Alekse, a family doctor at the Kaunas polyclinic.
Pest control experts also warn that bedbugs can enter your home with food deliveries or from a ride in a taxi. In particular, the parasites can come from warmer countries such as Italy, Spain, India or Pakistan. “The few cases we have come across are from these regions,” said Valys.
To avoid bedbugs, travellers should wash clothes in hot water, steam clean luggage and check for bites. Experts stress that cleanliness and vigilance are key factors in controlling the spread of parasites.
Read the full article in English: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2568780/bedbugs-on-the-move-lithuania-faces-post-pandemic-invasion