Bed Bugs and Air Travel
 

Today I recieved a letter and a package form my landlord stating that there is a bed bug infestation in NYC. Didn't need the letter to know that as its ont he news 24/7 it seems.

Anywho in the letter one of the top 5 ways to get bed bugs was air travel and hotel stays.

I am curious does anyone know if any of the airlines have bed bug treatment protocols?

Landlord gave everyone in the building 5 bottles of Rubbing Alcohol 91% and told us to spray it in areas we suspect we may have bed bugs if we suspect we do. Don't have bed bugs but was interesting to know that Rubbing Alcohol kills them.

Your question is probably discussed in the individual airline forums. For example, see this thread in the United Mileage Plus forum. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite......-seats.html

Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator.

Spraying some rubbing alcohol isn't going to kill them.

Make certain the letter isn't explaining that your building has them. Under the new rules, they must disclose.

If you have them, report to the landlord and demand immediate action.

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This may be what gets me to stop traveling. It is a huge and growing problem.

Rubbing alky unlikely to kill bedbugs (except by immersion/drowning) and is more likely to lead to alcoholism among resident population, leading the resident population to hold loud, orgiastic reunions in your bedding.

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Rubbing alcohol is isopropyl alcohol and will lead to funerals if consumed rather than parties.

But seriously. As this problem grows how it be avoided if you travel.

Do bedbugs read labels? Is all "rubbing alcohol" these days Isoprpyl? Do any vendors still sell Denatured Ethyl? ....Not that the "Denaturant" won't give you the Fall-Downs.....

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Not really the issue. It's a serious problem.

Airline seats can indeed be infested - I got a nice case of scabies on an MX 727 some years ago. The way to deal with those (and bedbugs) effectively is not to follow the "cw" or folk remedies, it is to follow proper protocols - and for bedbugs in one's abode, that usually calls for professional help.

But there are plenty of sites with good information - Google to the rescue! - and for hotels, one helpful place is Bedbug Registry. And for plenty of information on the Cimicidae, there's Wikipedia...

It may be, but alcohol is no more effective than cracking the little bug(ger)s between your teeth. Nor does setting the bed legs in coffee cans of kerosene work well. Obviously, in hotels which change linens daily (and use soap/detergent), the problem (and the bedbugs) would lurk in bedding (spreads, mattresses, pillows, etc.) for which effective treatment involves an insecticide. I'm sure that some of the organics (Pyrethiums?) would work, but that still leaves wool carpet or even some room furniture as temporary harboring material (although I suspect that bed bugs have a short lives not extending beyond a single egg laying cycle, without human contact/nourishment).

Since several sources suggest that guest luggage is the most suspect transport medium, do you want the TSA to spray bags?

Agreed about professional assistance if they are in your house. I thinking more of how to keep them out of your house.

Blindness and, as stated in other posts, potential death. This is NOT drinkng alcohol!

[QUOTE=TMOliver;14785585]I suspect that bed bugs have a short lives not extending beyond a single egg laying cycle, without human contact/nourishment).

/QUOTE]

The Wikipedia link provided by JDiver, above, says:

"Although bedbugs can live for a year without feeding . . . they normally try to feed every five to ten days."

I asked the landlord if we had a bed bug problem and he said no. They are just taking a premtive step because of their bed bug insurance.

I called 311 NYC hotline for the govermenet also the bed bug hotline. Asked about the Rubbing Alcohol and they said it actually does kill the bed bugs. it just has to be 91% or higher. Which is what the landlord gave us.

Interesting to see UA had a bed bug problem