Bed bugs found on a passenger jet flying from Australia to Italy disrupted flight operations, with the insects possibly carried aboard in travelers' clothing or luggage.
Bed Bugs Found in Economy Class, Flight Canceled
According to Britain's Guardian, Qantas Airways discovered bed bugs on flight QF5 from Perth, Australia, to Rome on the 9th.
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and the insects were found in the forward section of the economy cabin. After arriving in Rome, the plane was taken out of service for interior cleaning. As a result, the flight scheduled to return from Rome to Perth on the 10th was also canceled.
The airline said it regularly cleans cabins to high hygiene standards and carries out disinfection every 50 days as a preventive measure.
Michelle Power, a parasitologist and professor at Macquarie University in Australia, said the bed bugs may have entered the aircraft attached to passengers' luggage or clothing. "Bed bugs are closely linked to travel," the professor said. "People sometimes stay in hotels that have bed bugs, and because bed bugs like dark spaces and are attracted to the smell of human clothing, they can get into suitcases."
The professor added that bed bugs are flightless insects, noting that they can be moved to other locations during travel.
According to Power, bed bug bites can cause itching or skin irritation but the insects generally do not pose a serious threat to human health. Still, they are difficult to eliminate completely because they can survive for long periods hidden in bedding or narrow crevices without feeding.
Claims of Infestation at Busan Sauna, Bites Cause Itching
Meanwhile, claims of bed bug sightings have also surfaced in South Korea. Last month, an insect-focused YouTuber known as Dahuk released a video checking for bed bugs at a jjimjilbang, a Korean sauna and spa facility, in Busan. The footage showed inspections of mattresses, wall crevices and rest areas, and Dahuk said eggs, nymphs and what appeared to be adult insects were found together.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, bed bugs do not transmit infectious diseases and therefore are not classified as pests subject to management under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. However, they feed on human blood, disrupting sleep and potentially causing itching or secondary skin infections.
The time it takes for symptoms to appear after a bite varies by individual and can take up to about 10 days. If a bite is suspected, the affected area should be washed with soap and water, and treatment or medication use should be discussed with a doctor or pharmacist.
More Serious Than Lovebugs? Busan on Alert Over Infestation
Bed bug alert spreads from a Busan hotel to a jjimjilbang.
A YouTuber's video shows bed bugs swarming inside sauna mattresses.
A customer who visited on Aug. 30 reportedly carried them home.
Symptoms can appear up to 10 days after a bite. Businesses face fines or suspension, but because bed bugs are not legally classified as disease-carrying pests, mandatory extermination is difficult.
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