Bedbugs have reached South Korea

Following France and the UK, an epidemic of nasty bedbugs has broken out in South Korea. The authorities are reassuring, but the population ignores public transport and cinemas.

The alarm is present throughout the country, although, as of November 5, 17 outbreaks were recorded only in the capital and the cities of Busan and Incheon, local media write.

Seoul authorities have allocated 500 million won ($383,000) to combat the insects and set up a special response team. An invasion of bloodsucking insects was registered in September at the University of Daegu in the southwest of the country. Later, tourist sites and a public sauna reported the presence of bedbugs.

Some South Koreans are now avoiding cinemas and public transport due to fear of insects. Hotels are scrambling to combat bedbugs as bedbug outbreaks grow.

A report from South Korea’s EDaily News cited comments from people avoiding subway rides because of the fabric seats, spraying pesticides “all over” their homes for fear of “bugs suddenly appearing” and declaring a decision to “wait out” the epidemic at home.

Until recently, South Korea was thought to have eradicated bedbugs after a nationwide campaign to eradicate them in the 1960s. Although these insects do not carry diseases, their bites can cause severe itching, and scratching to relieve the itching can lead to sores, which in turn can lead to infection or scarring. Wingless pests hide in cracks, carpets, mattresses and cause emotional damage. Those living with bedbugs may feel uncomfortable and even afraid to sleep.

People in Seoul are flocking to public health centers asking for their insect bites to be checked and advice on measures they should take.

The Seoul government plans to inspect 3,200 public facilities, including hotels and baths, to assess their sanitary conditions. The government will also meet with private experts to discuss innovative experiences in bedbug control.

How writes Seoul plans to regularly steam fabric subway seats across the city and replace the fabric with other materials, BBC reported, citing local media. Government recommendations to use certain types of pesticides against bedbugs have sparked controversy as recent studies have shown them to be ineffective, South Korea’s national daily JoongAng Daily reported.

We recently talked about bedbug infestation in Paris and Britain, as well as about cases of their appearance in Greece.

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