South Korea grapples with bedbug outbreak: Local government concerned

Seoul: Local governments in South Korea are currently facing a challenging battle to control a resurgence of bedbugs in the country. The Busan Metropolitan Government took action on Friday, November 3, by posting bedbug prevention guidelines on its website. The Seoul Metropolitan Government also stepped in on October 30, distributing guidelines for bedbug prevention and management in related facilities.

The Seoul city administration plans to conduct inspections at 3,175 locations, with a primary focus on evaluating the frequency of washing and disinfection practices. This initiative is expected to be completed by the end of this year, as reported by South Korea’s local media.

While bedbugs are not carriers of infectious diseases, they pose a significant concern due to their feeding habits. Bedbugs feed on human blood during the night while people are asleep, which can potentially lead to secondary skin infections. These reddish-brown, wingless pests typically hide during the day in areas such as mattress seams, cracks, crevices, behind wallpaper, or amidst clutter near a bed.

The Korea Disease Control Agency (KDCA) is taking action to address the bedbug issue. They plan to provide pest control training to logistics companies that handle goods and passengers from countries dealing with bedbug infestations, such as France and the United Kingdom.

KDCA Commissioner Jee Young-mee emphasized the importance of vigilance for travellers, stating, “Those exposed to bedbugs while travelling abroad should thoroughly sterilize their travel accessories and take caution to check for bed bugs at their accommodation to avoid bites.”

South Korea had successfully eradicated bedbugs through nationwide campaigns in the 1960s. However, recent reports of bedbug infestations have resurged, including cases in a university dormitory in Daegu and a public sauna in Incheon.

Earlier, in September, France was also grappling with same issue causing nationwide anxiety and concern.

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