Most people picture bedbugs as a household problem, and they certainly are. What surprises a lot of homeowners is how far these insects travel and how many other places they turn up. Bedbugs hitch a ride in luggage, so hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts see them just as often. A traveller carries them in without ever knowing, and the bugs settle into the next property along, whether that is a holiday let or a business hotel.
The short answer to who bedbugs affect is almost anyone. Because people from every walk of life pass through them, bedbugs have turned up in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, in mental health units, and very commonly in nursing homes. If you own or run a property where lots of different people stay overnight, you are at risk, and it is worth taking steps to prevent an infestation before one takes hold.
Who is most at risk of bedbug bites
Bites can happen in any setting, and the bugs do not discriminate. A few situations carry a higher risk than most:
- Anyone staying in a hotel, hostel, apartment, caravan or other holiday accommodation, particularly where the bed has not been checked since the last guest left.
- People in shared housing such as HMOs, student halls and flats, where the bugs spread easily between rooms.
- Healthcare workers, especially those doing home visits, end of life care or mental health assessments in people’s bedrooms.
- Prisoners, who face a real risk in shared cells. The risk does not disappear in single cells either, because whoever used the bed last may have brought bedbugs in with them.
Why prevention matters
As the list shows, an enormous range of people and properties can be caught out by bedbugs. The pattern is always the same: somewhere with regular turnover of overnight guests gives the bugs the chance they need to establish themselves and move on.
If you think you might have a bedbug problem, call our team. We will clear the infestation and help reduce the chances of the bugs coming back. We are open every day except Christmas Day, from early until late.