Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Uncategorized
Likelyhood of Bedbug transmission from sharting a tent while camping???
(7 posts)-
Bklynchica
newbite
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 14
Posted 7 months ago
Fri Aug 7 2009 15:05:00
#
Login to Send PM
I'm going to give you guys the long version, so please bare with me.
Two years I was bitten by bed bugs when I slept over at a friends' (unbeknownst to me) infested house. I did not bring them home with me, thank god. But the bites were terrible. My eye was completely swollen shut, arms were covered in them. My pinky had so many bites on it that it swelled so large it could not bend. They became infected and I had to take antibiotics. I was left with splotchy marks for months. As you all know, it is a psychologically traumatizing experience. I spent the next two years obsessively searching for them in my own home, and drilling everyone whose home I stayed at about them. Also made sure to check out hotel rooms thoroughly before I felt comfortable there. My friends and family thought I was crazy (they start to understand when I show them pictures of my bites.)
Last year my sister moved into a new apartment. I asked her new roommates if they had a history of bed bugs. One of them said yes, but he took care of it and hadn't seen one in six months. I told my sister not to move in there, that the building is infested, that not seeing them doesn't mean they aren't there, and that I did not trust that he took appropriate measures. She did not take my advice. This same roommate moved out a few weeks ago. Last week my sister woke up with splotchy bites on her arms, hip and back. They looked very much like the bites I had. It seems that with their main food source gone, the bed bugs commuted to my sister's bedroom. Here is where it affects me. She got these bites right when we had plans to go camping. We had to share a tent. She says that the clothes she brought with her had all been washed right before packing, and that her suitcase had been stored on a high shelf in her closet. We shared a tent from July 31 to August 3. I have no bites. She did not acquire any new bites during those days. Today she discovered an actual bed bug (in the bed left behind by the former roommate,) so her bug status is now confirmed, but I have not yet washed my camping clothes. They are sitting at the foot of my bed in my suitcase, since her bug status wasn't confirmed until today, and we were trying to believe that her bites were from mosquitoes. Of course, now I realize they looked just like bed bug bites, and I should have stayed in a separate tent just to be safe, and should have washed all my clothes as soon as I got home.
I am inclined to believe that transmission is highly unlikely. But my inherent bed bug paranoia requires that I throw this out there.
On a freak out scale of 1-10, where does this fall?
Thank you, fellow bed bug psychotics.
-
spideyjg
oldtimer
Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 1,614
Posted 7 months ago
Fri Aug 7 2009 15:36:53
#
Login to Send PM
Never, ever, ever come back from a trip and slap your suitcase on your bed.
How long have you had it on the bed? Bag it, haul it off, wash and dry all on hot. The case itself Either leave it bagged or toss it.
Given your nasty reaction you need to be be very cautious when traveling.
Jim
-
momto2boys
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 29
Posted 7 months ago
Fri Aug 7 2009 16:00:49
#
Login to Send PM
I agree with spidey and I'm lol at the typo in the title of your post. I would not take any unnecessary risk since it sounds like you react so strongly.
-
Bklynchica
newbite
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 14
Posted 7 months ago
Fri Aug 7 2009 16:15:43
#
Login to Send PM
It's not on my bed, but it's on the floor by it, for about two days. But again, is there an agreement that the likely hood is low?
Agh, what a weird typo.
-
momto2boys
newbite
Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 29
Posted 7 months ago
Fri Aug 7 2009 16:32:43
#
Login to Send PM
It's probably unlikely but given the situation I would treat the bag as if it's infested.
-
Bringing your bag home and dumping it anywhere (as is) is a no-no, given your wish to remain bed bug-free.
The likelihood may be low because your sister would have to have picked up bed bug hitchikers and brought them on the trip. It does happen but there is a degree of luck involved.
Since you have had severe reactions in the past, we can hope you'd get the warning of a reaction, though there's no certainty there. Sometimes people react differently to different bed bug bites, or to different numbers of bites (for example, being bit many times in a short period may affect you differently than a single bite.)
So I'd agree with what Jim said about dealing with the laundry and bag. And stay vigilant!
-
Bklynchica
newbite
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 14
Posted 7 months ago
Mon Aug 10 2009 9:43:13
#
Login to Send PM
The day of posting, I got home and bagged my clothes and suitcase and started washing them. My sister believes that the bedbug infestation in her apartment is limited to her ex-roommate's bedroom, where it turns out she slept for a few nights because it was cooler in there, so that is where she got bitten. The only bed bug she found was in that room. Her landlord hired an exterminator who specializes in bed bugs and he exterminated yesterday, and is scheduled to come every two weeks. The exterminator said he's working on getting the landlord to contract him for the whole building. She hasn't gotten anymore bites, and I haven't gotten any, so I'm staying optimistic.
Thanks for the advice and the cautious reassurance. I've been a big fan of this site for a few years.
Reply
You must log in to post.
