There is a world wide bed bug epidemic which seems to be getting worse every year. This resurgence comes after almost 40 years of near extinction in the developed world. International and domestic travel has contributed significantly to the problem. Although bed bugs do not live on the human host, they do latch on to personal items like backpacks and luggage to travel more efficiently.
Airplanes have not been left out on the list of places where you are likely to encounter the pests. There have been rising cases of bed bugs in airplanes most notably on British Airways and Air India which have been most publicized although the problem is likely not limited to these two airlines.
What Canadian Airlines Are Doing to Prevent Bed Bugs
Bed bugs aren’t attracted to filth and spread arbitrarily. If they can get a chance to attach on a piece of moving luggage or clothing, they will infest anywhere from libraries to senior residents homes to aircraft. Even business class passengers are not spared the agony.
There are a few things that Canadian airlines are doing to mitigate the bed bug problem.
- Some times there is nothing the airline can do if the bed bugs are not physically visible to the flight crew. Bed bug bites can take up to a week to manifest which often leads to cases of passengers complaining of bites that likely happened previously and in a different location.
- Many Canadian airlines have a two-fold cleaning system. The flight crew cleans after every flight while a team of professional groomers clean at the end of every workday. Canadian law mandates that airlines must be cleaned at least once every 24 hours.
- Although Canadian law doesn’t mandate the use of pesticides and disinfecting after flights, some countries such as Barbados, Australia and Cuba require them. Airlines flying to these countries and others with similar laws are compelled to follow the host country’s laws.
- Many airlines train flight crew specifically to spot and mitigate bed bugs and hire professional cleaning services that handle bed bugs.
- In extreme cases, flights may be grounded. A famous British Airways incident saw a flight grounded and a replacement plane ordered after crew spotted live bed bugs in the aircraft and refused to travel in it.
- A few airlines have switched to vinyl seats. Bed bugs like fabric, wood and other textured surfaces since they are poor climbers. Vinyl and other smooth surfaces make it difficult for the pest to travel easily.
Despite news reports, the good news is that it is highly unlikely that you will encounter bed bugs on an airline. Bed bugs on airlines are actually uncommon compared to hotels and other public places. Bed bugs like quiet, dark and still places and aircraft do not provide an environment conducive for their survival like homes and hotels.
Hire The Exterminators to Get Rid of Bed Bugs after Travel
If you suspect that you have come into contact with bed bugs during your travels and are afraid to bring them home with you, do not panic. The most important step is to isolate all your belongings to prevent the bugs from spreading. Insert the suitcase and other luggage in a sealed plastic bag and keep in the garage or out of the way. Remove your clothing as close to the door as possible and place in a tightly sealed plastic bag and in a second bag until ready to launder. Wash the clothes in the highest heat setting that the fabric allows and repeat with the dryer. Place the clean clothes in a tightly sealed plastic bag until ready to wear.
Hire The Exterminators to inspect the house to make sure you haven’t introduced the pest. Early identification and extermination will arrest the spread of the bugs and prevent a full-blown infestation. Our technicians also heat or steam-treat items that cannot be laundered and take measures to ensure that the home is safe and free from bed bugs. We do a follow-up treatment after the first one and include a warranty to give you peace of mind that help is available in case of a problem with the initial treatment.