Bed bugs surge in southern states as spring break travelers warned
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Spring break travelers to popular destinations in the United States may want to be more careful about what they bring home.
Pest control reports show travel-related bedbug infestations are on the rise in some southern states.
A recent report from Terminix in Atlanta ranked Georgia sixth nationally among the 50 hardest-hit U.S. cities for bedbug service requests.
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Other southern states such as Florida, Texas and Tennessee also reported increased concerns about travel-related infestations.
Spring break travelers need to be careful as travel-related bed bug cases are on the rise in some southern states. (iStock)
New York-based travel expert Lee Abbamonte told Fox News Digital that travelers may be at higher risk of encountering bedbugs in certain types of accommodation.
“Bedbugs tend to show up in areas frequented by younger, budget-friendly tourists,” Abbamonte said. “Places like popular spring destinations for students or youth hostels.”
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He said these places often experience guest turnover and crowded rooms, which can make thorough cleaning more difficult.
“Young people and students are often not interested in the condition of the room,” Abbamonte added. “They just want to get to their destination as cheaply as possible.”
Travelers may be more likely to encounter bedbugs at lower-cost accommodations popular with younger tourists, such as spring break destinations. (iStock)
Bed bugs are small, flat insects that often hide in dark cracks and crevices near where people sleep, Terminix reports.
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Pests are often found in mattress seams, behind headboards, at furniture joints and near baseboards in hotel rooms and short-term rentals.
Fox News Digital has previously reported that travel is one of the most common ways bed bugs spread from place to place.
Hotels with frequent guest changes and crowded rooms can make it easier for bedbugs to spread and make it difficult to maintain thorough cleaning. (iStock)
Benjamin Hottel, a Georgia-based entomologist with Orkin, told Fox News Digital that the pests are skilled at “hitchhiking” on personal items.
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He noted that travelers can unknowingly carry bedbugs onto planes, into hotels and eventually into their homes.
Hottel recommends checking luggage and clothing after trips and placing travel clothing in a high-temperature dryer for approximately 30 to 45 minutes if exposure is suspected; This can help eliminate insects before they spread throughout the house.
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Fox News Digital’s Ashley DiMella contributed reporting.
