Mutant bedbugs are spreading across Europe

Mutant bed bugs are spreading rapidly across Europe. They hit the front pages of the world press, as they began to cause a lot of problems to residents of Western European countries. About it writes BBC.

The first about the invasion of bloodsucking insects announced in Paris. There with uninvited guests faced schools, hospitals and even cinemas. Because of the infestation of bedbugs, according to journalists, one of the city's hospitals had to close for 24 days. Its decontamination cost the management of the medical centre $400,000.

Specialists note that bedbugs in France have been encountered before, but due to global travelling they have become more numerous. In addition, traditional methods of pest control do not give the proper effect.

American scientists conducted a study and found that most of the new samples of bed bugs, however alarming, have become immune to the most common means of their destruction.

There have been changes in the DNA of these bed bugs that make them resistant to common control agents. For example, there is a part of their genetic structure that is responsible for nerve function. Some insecticides disrupt this function, but bed bugs have evolved in such a way that they are not affected," the experts explain.

The study also found that treating bed bugs with insecticides "hardens" them - helping stronger individuals to survive and subsequently not perceive chemical agents at all, leading to the emergence of new bed bugs resistant to the treatment.

The document says that bedbugs all over the world have become "immune" to insecticides, but it is the French bedbugs that have proved to be more resistant, as they were able to "grow" two genes responsible for survival.

Bedbugs are trying to survive. Some have learnt to grow thicker skins, others have started to "walk" in order to have less contact with infested surfaces.

However, as the Air Force points out, things are not so dire and some bed bug control methods still produce good results.

Heat treatment

Heating infested areas to 60°C kills all bedbugs, but there is a risk that the insects will move in with neighbours

Fungal control

This is a natural fungus that is harmful to bedbugs but safe for humans. Bed bugs carry these spores, which then proliferate and harm them.

Scientists are encouraging that although bedbugs are getting smarter, humans still have a chance against these insects as people can track changes in bedbug behaviour and find new "killer" and most importantly, effective methods to combat them.

Why bedbugs are unpleasant

The greatest harm to people bedbugs cause by their bites. They cause irritation, painful itching, blisters and scabs, depriving people of normal rest and sleep. In addition, bites can lead to an allergic reaction or become a psychotraumatic factor. Bed bugs also carry a variety of infections, including tuberculosis, brucellosis, hepatitis, smallpox, tularemia and anthrax .

Bed bugs can crawl from neighbouring flats, from floor to floor through ventilation ducts, electrical outlets and, in warm weather, the exterior walls of houses. In addition, attics can be a breeding ground for bedbugs (if pigeons nest in them). Rarely, but sometimes, bedbugs can be picked up in transport and other crowded places.