Hong Kong Bed Bug Outbreak Sparks 'Panic Buying' of Insecticides as Bloodsuckers Spread from Person to Person

Bed bugs are on the rise in Hong Kong as the bloodsuckers reportedly spread from person to person, with media reporting and experts calling Hong Kong the "Disneyland" for the nuisance insects. The Hong Kong bed bug outbreak has sparked a panic buying of insecticides among its inhabitants with the aim of killing the ticks. Lawmakers in Hong Kong even appealed to local authorities about the bed bug spread, which threatens not only residents but also travelers to the East Asian city-state.

The Hong Kong bed bug infestation is not the only place in the world facing the outbreak, as similar cases have been reported in recent months in Paris, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Amid the bed bug epidemic, experts have warned that these insects can be killed but some species have developed resistance to insecticides and other insect-killing pesticides. In the United States, these reddish-brown insects have been reported in all states of the country, affecting homes and other establishments.

Hong Kong Bed Bug Outbreak

Hong Kong is seemingly becoming a haven for bed bugs, as there are many places in the city where they can lay eggs and spread between humans, according to Fransico Pazos, an owner of a pest control company. The Hong Kong bed bug outbreak not only caused panic buying for insecticides but also for pest control bookings as well, according to reports.

Due to fears of a looming bed bug invasion, Hong Kong residents have resorted to insect killers and sought the help of professional exterminators. However, a former head of a pest control advisory company, Yuen Ming-chi, said good hygiene and constant checking of items from infected areas are enough to keep the bed bugs away.

Amid the Hong Kong bed bug infestation, evidence shows this is not the first time that the blood-sucking insects made their presence in the territory. Speaking to a local television program, Professor Chiu Siu-wai of the Chinese University, stated the bugs were already common in Hong Kong even before.

Siu-wai said she and her colleagues conducted a 2021 survey and found that one-sixth of respondents saw bed bugs in their homes, asserting that bed bugs only rank second among the blood-sucking insects in Hong Kong, where mosquitoes ranked first.

Bed Bug Epidemic

Hong Kong is not the only victim of the bed bug epidemic, since this year saw Paris, South Korea, and the United Kingdom with similar problems. In South Korea, local authorities and the public have been on high alert as an uncontrollable number of bed bugs spread in homes, university dorms, bathhouses, and train stations, including in Seoul.

Just like with some other insects, bed bug bites can also be itchy depending on the allergic reaction of a person. Yet, one of the most evident signs of tick bites is a line of bites in a small area of the body. Other symptoms include skin blisters or hives.