Remember that ‘amusing’ childhood saying that parents used to real off just before you went to bed? Well a few nights ago I got to experience the real deal.
The story starts at breakfast time, following my first night back in Mexico. A young couple on a nearby table were complaining to the hotel manager about the bites that they had received during the night. Their opinion on the cause of these bites – bed bugs. I cringed at the thought. Full marks to the hotel, it wasn’t long before the “pest control’ company arrived and gave the bed, and room, in question, a ‘deep clean’.
As my room was next to theirs, a thought briefly went through my mind; might some of those unwelcome guests, as a result of the cleaning process, somehow make their way into mine?
Fast forward a few days and I’m now in Guatemala. I woke up after my first night to find my body covered in red swollen blotches! The blotches itched like crazy. You guessed it – bed bugs. The next problem I had was, do I say anything to my host family? Were the bed bugs there before I arrived or did I bring them with me from Mexico? Moral dilema or a no brainier?
According to reports, bed bug infestations seem to be increasing around the world, at an alarming rate. The reasons for the increase are thought to be due to increasing world travel, a reluctance to use some insecticides – because of concerns regarding toxicity, and resistance to other insecticides – such as pyrethroids.
Somewhat embarrassed, I mentioned the problem to my host who was extremely understanding and gave me another room. Suffice to say, it wasn’t long before the ‘pest control’ company turned up to sort the problem out.
I just hope and pray that my current bed remains a ‘safe haven’ from those wretched little critters.
Night night, sleep tight, and remember…….. don’t let the bed bugs bite!
