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Backpacking with bugs?
(6 posts)-
Itchy traveler
newbite
Joined: May '09
Posts: 5offline
Posted 3 years ago
Sun May 17 2009 21:31:54
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My worst travel nightmare...bedbugs. Im in Morocco and I woke up with bites a few nights ago. I woke up itchy with bites but they were only on my neck, shoulders and face (and never 3 in a row) so I thought it was mosquitos. Next night I woke up with the same bites burning and itchy so while I was applying a hydrocortisone creae I spotted a full fat bedbug on the wall. I killed it, doused myself with bug spray and had to go back to bed. I showed the hostel manager in the morning and we took the bedding all apart but didnt find anything, not even the telltale shells or fecal matter. He suggested I brought them there but my first bites were at his hostel.
My backpack had been open on the floor and I had pieces of my luggage on the bed during the day.
Im in a different hotel now but am scared to move in case I am carrying them. New bites have been showing up all day, mostly on my face and shoulders, same area as the original bites. There are now definate patterns of 3 and I have no doubt what they are.
So...my questions are...have these new bites just taken a few extra days to show up? Im fairly certain I would have noticed if a bedbug crawling on my face in the middle of the day today. I've read it takes up to 9 days to flare up but if I was bit in two nights would they not all react in the same time frame?
How can I tell if I am carrrying them?
and the biggest question is one I cannot find an answer to anywhere on the net. How does a backpacker in a third world country decontaminate? I do not have access to the chemicals that are suggested. I do not have access to a steam unit and a hot water washing machine is going to be difficult to find. (all wash is done by hand in cold water here) I might be able to get to a big city to get a hairdryer or washing machine but Im not sure that Im convinced a hair dryer will work. (also by the time I can get to one, I will have had to stay in another room)
What are my chances that I am carrying them? How long will it take for me to find out?
Any advise for an itchy backpacker in a dusty third world country?
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barbafant
newbite
Joined: May '09
Posts: 17offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon May 18 2009 5:55:18
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HI, I'm new here so my advice may be wrong.
If you can boil a large amount of water or get access to that it might be enough. If the water is at least +60 C (+140 F) but preferably hotter and you immerse everything that can stand water for half an hour or longer that should probably be enough, if the hot water gets into every seam and fold. Water must be at +60 C (+140 F) all the time of course.
Bugspray probably won't help. -
Itchy traveler
newbite
Joined: May '09
Posts: 5offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon May 18 2009 9:52:43
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Great idea but still a logistical problem. How do I keep water that hot for half an hour and I dont know where I could submerge my pack. I'll keep that in mind tho
I was told to put my pack in a gargabe bag and leave it in the sun...the heat will kill them. Anyone know if this will work?Any way to know if Im carrying them short of spotting the bugs?
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spideyjg
oldtimer
Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 3,071offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon May 18 2009 10:08:21
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Bottom line is get every point of the pack to over 140F and you will kill the bugs and eggs.
Whether you can pull this off is a logistical issue anywhere. Depending the ambient temp and the time, maybe. This is assuming the pack is empty.
Jim
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oldtimer
Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 3,761offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon May 18 2009 12:34:01
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Hi,
I would not waste your time trying to use a black bag to heat the items up as the outside temperatures needed to do it and generally not achievable unless you are backpacking on the surface of the sun.
The best advice I can give you is written here:
http://www.bed-bugs.co.uk/newsletters.html#Advice
A good detailed finger tip inspection fo your bag may suffice but ti does need to be detailed.
The most important thing however is learning how to inspect a room you are planning on staying in so that you do not get exposed again.
Avoidance is so much better than any cure.
Hope this help.
David Cain
Bed Bugs Limited -
Itchy traveler
newbite
Joined: May '09
Posts: 5offline
Posted 2 years ago
Mon May 18 2009 23:20:33
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Great, thanks for you help. Definately great advise. I would have thought the www would be full of advise for a backpacker.
My last question is how long will it take for me to know if I'm carrying them (if I do a detailed inspecton and dont find anything.) I don't want to keep traveling and spreading them if they are in my bag undetected. Ive been in this new room now for 3 nights and I feel like I should stay until Im sure. I dont think Im getting new bites but I have new spots that flare up during the day. They are on my face and hands so thats why I dont think they are new bits.
And good info on your website. Believe it or not, I did look at the mattress but I looked at the foot of the bed. I thought thats where they bit, was the lower body. Even after I was bit I didnt see any of the telltale signs on the mattress. I should have gone a bit deeper in my search. Nasty lesson learned
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