Last year, bed bug panic took over after an infestation swarmed Paris hotels during Fashion Week that raised the question, “Are bed bugs back and are they harder than ever to get rid of?”
Sources are saying yes, and what’s worse, they were spotted in several hotels in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, bed bugs are not just confined to Las Vegas, as it seems this is becoming a global infestation, as a “resurgence” has seen an increase in bed bugs over the last 2 decades.
Many visitors all around the world come to Las Vegas daily, but Formula 1 weekend and Super Bowl saw an influx of visitors. Super Bowl weekend was reported to bring in 300k+ visitors in Las Vegas alone and the total number in the last 6 months is closer to 13 million.
An investigation by the Southern Nevada Health District found that several major Las Vegas resorts had reports of bed bugs. Those resorts, so far, have been linked to Encore, Venetian, Mirage, and Excalibur and last summer, another outbreak linked bed bugs to Caesar’s Palace, MGM Grand, Circus Circus, Planet Hollywood, Tropicana, and Palazzo.
Bed bugs are becoming harder to get rid of, according to an article in Knowable Magazine, so it’s best to keep vigilant. As bed bugs have been been across the world, they’ve mutated to be resistant to pesticides and there are now two different varieties.
So how you can stay extra vigilant to avoid taking bed bugs home with you on vacation?
First off, spotting a bed bug.
They’re small, about the size of an apple seed and are mostly nocturnal. When they’re in your bed, you might spot them moving or see reddish-brown stains in the crevices in the mattress.
What do you do if you spot a bed bug crawling across your mattress?
Immediately tell hotel staff who will likely do an investigation and move you to a different room. You can also try asking for a refund, though we can’t guarantee the resort will give you one. It depends on their policy.
Although it may seem that bed bugs are becoming more and more of an issue, remember that cases like these come and go, so while it may seem like a never-ending flurry of bed bug infestations, don’t panic. Stay vigilant, check your mattresses, and you’ll be okay.