ElainePDX
Level 2 Member
We just arrived home from a month in southern Africa, which was absolutely fantastic, with one exception: I discovered three bed bugs bites while we were in Cape Town. I made some mistakes which I will share in hopes you can avoid them, and then will ask for some suggestions re: handling shoes, coats and luggage now that we are home. I did of course google it so I know the basics.
I typically do a bed bug check on arriving at a hotel. I don't strip the bed, but I do look in at least one corner of the mattress, usually 2. By the time I realized I had 3 bed bug bites, we'd stayed at 4 hotels/lodges, taken several shuttles, and flown on 5 planes.
On day 2 or 3 of our time in CPT, I felt what I thought was a mosquito bite on the back of my upper arm. I couldn't see it and it wasn't that itchy so I basically ignored it. When I first felt it, we were staying at the Radisson Blu Le Vendome, first in a standard room for 2 nights and then upgraded to a suite for 4 nights. I had checked the first room but don't remember if I checked the upgrade, since we were rushing when we made the switch as we had an appointment that morning. Had I gotten bitten at this hotel, it could have been in either room.
It wasn't until a few days after I first felt it that the bite got really itchy, so I rolled up my sleeve and asked my husband to investigate. It was then that we saw the classic three bites in a row, about an inch apart. He had no bites and I had no bites anyplace else. And by then, we had checked out of the Le Vendome, so I could not go back to check the room myself.
I immediately called the hotel, spoke to a manager who was on duty, and she took it quite seriously. She was grateful I reported it because she said otherwise they have no way of knowing. They had housekeeping investigate, removed the mattress although they saw no signs of bugs, called in an outside company to check, and ultimately reported back that there were no signs of any bugs in either of the rooms we'd occupied. I was told by one person that they fumigate routinely once a month; another said the fumigation is quarterly. They said they had not had any such reports, although recently a child did get bitten but it was soon determined that she actually had mosquito bites. Obviously they could be lying to me, but in the course of my following up, I spoke to several staff members, and learned that the issue had been brought up several times at their morning meetings. I feel confident that they did indeed investigate.
My own research taught me that people do not always see a bite soon after it happens. Not only do some people get no skin reaction to a bite, but it can take a few days or more until a bite manifests and shows up on the skin. Some people have more of an allergic reaction and their bites can look worse. So unless you can actually see the infestation, it can be hard to ascertain just when and where you were bitten.
So it is quite possible that I was bitten at a previous hotel, in an airport shuttle, or on a plane. The site of the bites - the back of my upper arm - is consistent with sitting in a seat as well as lying on a bed. The fact that it was just the one set of bites and that my husband, who occupied the same beds, was not bitten, makes me think that I was not bitten at the Le Vendome.
So, here are my suggestions; ones I will follows from now on:
1. As soon as you notice a bite, investigate what on your skin is making you itch.
2. Even if you are in a hurry, terribly jet-lagged or have some other good reason not to check for bed bugs, do it anyway and do it thoroughly.
It is not that hard to strip a bed but I have yet to figure out how best to check for bugs on a hotel sofa or chair, esp. if the upholstery is a dark color. And checking a taxi, shuttle or airplane seat is probably not realistic, so be proactive about investigating if you think you were bitten by something.
The bites are nearly gone, and for the remainder of our trip we did not see any signs of bedbugs or any more bites. But apparently these pesky creatures can squeeze into the seams of clothing and luggage and they are capable of not eating for over a year! I really don't think we brought any home, but I still want to take precautions.
Our stuff is currently on a table in a room with a hard wood floor. The table is covered with a plastic cloth, and nothing will be put on any beds, carpets or upholstery until I make sure it is bed bug free. I am slowly unpacking into plastic tubs that get carried up to an extra bathroom where the laundry is sorted into piles in the empty bathtub. I will wash everything that is washable and will put whatever can be dried into my dryer, on hot, for an hour.
I need some advice on what to do with leather shoes, a Marmot rain jacket, and two down jackets that cannot be dry cleaned or dried in a hot dryer. (We needed the warm clothes for the days in NYC before and after the trip.) The suitcases are rollerboards that are hard plastic but they are lined with non-removable fabric. I may just seal them in plastic bags and not use them for 18 months, but I'd rather not do that with the shoes and jackets. I am also unsure of whether to wash and dry our day packs or if I should just throw them in the dryer.
If anyone has dealt with this and has advice I am happy to learn from you.
Thanks!
Elaine
I typically do a bed bug check on arriving at a hotel. I don't strip the bed, but I do look in at least one corner of the mattress, usually 2. By the time I realized I had 3 bed bug bites, we'd stayed at 4 hotels/lodges, taken several shuttles, and flown on 5 planes.
On day 2 or 3 of our time in CPT, I felt what I thought was a mosquito bite on the back of my upper arm. I couldn't see it and it wasn't that itchy so I basically ignored it. When I first felt it, we were staying at the Radisson Blu Le Vendome, first in a standard room for 2 nights and then upgraded to a suite for 4 nights. I had checked the first room but don't remember if I checked the upgrade, since we were rushing when we made the switch as we had an appointment that morning. Had I gotten bitten at this hotel, it could have been in either room.
It wasn't until a few days after I first felt it that the bite got really itchy, so I rolled up my sleeve and asked my husband to investigate. It was then that we saw the classic three bites in a row, about an inch apart. He had no bites and I had no bites anyplace else. And by then, we had checked out of the Le Vendome, so I could not go back to check the room myself.
I immediately called the hotel, spoke to a manager who was on duty, and she took it quite seriously. She was grateful I reported it because she said otherwise they have no way of knowing. They had housekeeping investigate, removed the mattress although they saw no signs of bugs, called in an outside company to check, and ultimately reported back that there were no signs of any bugs in either of the rooms we'd occupied. I was told by one person that they fumigate routinely once a month; another said the fumigation is quarterly. They said they had not had any such reports, although recently a child did get bitten but it was soon determined that she actually had mosquito bites. Obviously they could be lying to me, but in the course of my following up, I spoke to several staff members, and learned that the issue had been brought up several times at their morning meetings. I feel confident that they did indeed investigate.
My own research taught me that people do not always see a bite soon after it happens. Not only do some people get no skin reaction to a bite, but it can take a few days or more until a bite manifests and shows up on the skin. Some people have more of an allergic reaction and their bites can look worse. So unless you can actually see the infestation, it can be hard to ascertain just when and where you were bitten.
So it is quite possible that I was bitten at a previous hotel, in an airport shuttle, or on a plane. The site of the bites - the back of my upper arm - is consistent with sitting in a seat as well as lying on a bed. The fact that it was just the one set of bites and that my husband, who occupied the same beds, was not bitten, makes me think that I was not bitten at the Le Vendome.
So, here are my suggestions; ones I will follows from now on:
1. As soon as you notice a bite, investigate what on your skin is making you itch.
2. Even if you are in a hurry, terribly jet-lagged or have some other good reason not to check for bed bugs, do it anyway and do it thoroughly.
It is not that hard to strip a bed but I have yet to figure out how best to check for bugs on a hotel sofa or chair, esp. if the upholstery is a dark color. And checking a taxi, shuttle or airplane seat is probably not realistic, so be proactive about investigating if you think you were bitten by something.
The bites are nearly gone, and for the remainder of our trip we did not see any signs of bedbugs or any more bites. But apparently these pesky creatures can squeeze into the seams of clothing and luggage and they are capable of not eating for over a year! I really don't think we brought any home, but I still want to take precautions.
Our stuff is currently on a table in a room with a hard wood floor. The table is covered with a plastic cloth, and nothing will be put on any beds, carpets or upholstery until I make sure it is bed bug free. I am slowly unpacking into plastic tubs that get carried up to an extra bathroom where the laundry is sorted into piles in the empty bathtub. I will wash everything that is washable and will put whatever can be dried into my dryer, on hot, for an hour.
I need some advice on what to do with leather shoes, a Marmot rain jacket, and two down jackets that cannot be dry cleaned or dried in a hot dryer. (We needed the warm clothes for the days in NYC before and after the trip.) The suitcases are rollerboards that are hard plastic but they are lined with non-removable fabric. I may just seal them in plastic bags and not use them for 18 months, but I'd rather not do that with the shoes and jackets. I am also unsure of whether to wash and dry our day packs or if I should just throw them in the dryer.
If anyone has dealt with this and has advice I am happy to learn from you.
Thanks!
Elaine
