Branle-bas-de-combat in the emergency room of La Timone hospital in Marseille. An invasion of Bedbugs disrupts the operation of the adult emergency department, reports France 3 Alpes Provence Côtes d’Azur. 10 boxes out of 35 in the service had to be closed to undergo decontamination. The rooms affected by the invasion of bedbugs have been disinfected. The nursing staff criticizes the management for having reacted too late, in particular to warn the patients. Posters have been posted at the emergency entrance for information.
France 3 specifies that patients with bedbugs have been taken care of and that their personal effects have been treated. Sniffer dogs should check on the spot on Friday that the unwanted host has indeed eradicated from the emergency department.
Bed bugs, a phenomenon on the rise
Bed bugs are a growing problem that goes hand in hand with the development of mass tourism in large cities. Travelers unknowingly bring back these small insects in their suitcase which then infest the beds of the hosts. There are many places of contamination: hotel, bed and breakfast, hospital, retirement home, nursery, school, dormitory…
While the threat of invasion is scary, these apple-seed-sized insects that roam at night are not disease vectors. Bites, more or less numerous, can cause itching.
How to recognize bed bug bites
Among the signs that can alert to the presence of bed bugs:
-The presence of visible punctures on the skin, often in rows of onions or grouped. ;
-The presence of bedbugs and their droppings that form small black spots on the mattress, sheets, box spring or walls;
-The presence of large and long traces of blood on the sheets linked to the crushing of bedbugs during the person’s sleep.
The bed bug bites disappear naturally within ten days and do not require special care, specifies the Ministry of Health. This is a reminder of the right actions in the event of a bedbug bite: “clean your skin and try not to scratch yourself to avoid any secondary infection. If you suffer from persistent itching, consult your doctor who can prescribe a cream to relieve you”.
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