Bedbug Infestations Are Rising: What You Need to Know and How to Protect Your Home

Bedbugs are small, persistent pests that can turn a comfortable home, hotel room, or apartment into a stressful environment. Recent reports suggest that bedbug infestations are becoming an increasing concern, particularly during warmer months. While these insects are not usually associated with serious disease, researchers are continuing to investigate their potential public health risks, including whether they could play a role in spreading antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The good news is that there are practical steps you can take to reduce the risk of bringing bedbugs home and to respond quickly if you suspect an infestation.

What Are Bedbugs?

Bedbugs are small, reddish-brown insects that feed on human blood. They are approximately the size of an apple seed and are particularly well adapted to living close to people. During the day, they hide in narrow spaces such as mattress seams, furniture joints, cracks, clothing, bedding, and other dark areas. At night, they become active and move toward people who are sleeping.

One reason bedbugs can be difficult to detect is that their bites are usually painless. Some people develop itchy red marks within a day or two, while others may have little or no visible reaction. This means an infestation can continue growing before someone realises there is a problem.

Common signs of bedbugs include live insects, small dark marks on mattresses or furniture, shed skins, and evidence around areas where people sleep.

Why Are Bedbug Infestations Increasing?

Bedbugs were once significantly reduced in many developed countries because of widespread pesticide use. However, populations began to return as these insects developed resistance to commonly used insecticides. The source article notes that the use of DDT contributed to a major decline in bedbug populations after the Second World War, but resistance had already begun developing before the chemical was banned for most uses in the United States in 1972.

Today, insecticide resistance can make bedbug control more complicated. Simply spraying a random chemical may not eliminate an infestation, particularly if the insects are resistant to the product being used. This is one reason professional pest control services can be useful when an infestation becomes established.

It is also difficult to determine exactly how widespread bedbugs are because some commonly published city rankings are based on pest control company customer calls rather than scientific surveys.

Can Bedbugs Spread Disease?

Historically, experts generally believed that bedbugs were unlikely to transmit infectious diseases between humans. Their anatomy and digestive processes were thought to make effective transmission difficult.

However, research has raised new questions. A 2023 study involving researchers from the University of South Dakota used artificial skin and blood capsules to examine whether bedbugs could acquire and subsequently spread MRSA. The experiment found that bedbugs could acquire the bacteria during one feeding and spread it during a later feeding.

This does not mean that bedbugs have been proven to transmit MRSA to humans in everyday conditions. More research is needed to establish whether this can happen in real-world environments.

There are other potential health concerns associated with severe infestations. A medical case reported in 2020 described a 70-year-old man who developed severe anemia following prolonged blood loss associated with a major bedbug infestation. Doctors found thousands of bedbugs throughout his home.

How to Prevent Bedbugs When Travelling

Travel is one of the most common ways bedbugs can enter a home. Hotels, hostels, rental properties, and other accommodation can provide opportunities for these insects to move into luggage and clothing.

Before unpacking, inspect the mattress, bed frame, and surrounding areas. Look for live insects or small dark marks that could indicate bedbug activity. Avoid putting luggage directly on beds or carpets near sleeping areas. Instead, keep suitcases away from sleeping surfaces while you inspect the room.

When you return home, consider unpacking outside or away from bedrooms. Put clothing directly into the washing machine and dryer rather than leaving luggage and clothes around the bedroom.

These simple habits can reduce the chances of accidentally introducing bedbugs into your home.

Be Careful With Secondhand Furniture

Secondhand furniture can also provide a route for bedbugs to enter a property. Mattresses, sofas, bed frames, wardrobes, and other upholstered items can contain insects or eggs in places that are difficult to see.

Before bringing used furniture indoors, inspect it carefully. Depending on the item, vacuuming, steaming, heat treatment, or temporary isolation may help reduce the risk.

Clothing and washable fabrics should be cleaned and placed through a high-temperature dryer cycle where appropriate. The source also notes that some non-washable items can be frozen for an extended period as a treatment method.

What Should You Do If You Find Bedbugs?

If you suspect an infestation, do not ignore it. Bedbugs can reproduce and spread into different areas of a property, making treatment more difficult and expensive.

Avoid relying on random household chemicals. Bedbug populations can have resistance to insecticides, so an unsuitable product may fail to solve the problem. Professional pest control specialists with experience in bedbug treatment can assess the infestation and recommend an appropriate approach.

Non-chemical treatments can also be part of an effective control strategy. Silica dust products work by causing insects to lose moisture, while sustained dry heat can kill both adult bedbugs and eggs. Heat treatment requires careful temperature control, however, and professional treatment may be necessary to avoid damaging belongings.

Final Thoughts

Bedbugs are frustrating, persistent, and increasingly difficult to control because of insecticide resistance. However, early detection and prompt action can make a major difference.

Inspect accommodation when travelling, keep luggage away from beds, carefully check secondhand furniture, and treat clothing and other potentially exposed items appropriately. If you discover an infestation, avoid panic and take action as soon as possible.

The most important lesson is simple: prevention and early intervention are often easier than dealing with a large infestation. As pest control experts quoted in the source emphasise, people should not panic if they suspect bedbugs, but they should not delay taking action either.

Sources

The Independent, published 15 August 2026.

Disclaimer

This article is provided for general information and educational purposes only. It is not professional medical, pest control, or public health advice. Claims about the potential transmission of MRSA by bedbugs remain an area requiring further research. If you suspect a serious infestation or have health concerns, consult an appropriately qualified professional.