Europe’s bed bug epidemic has “arrived” in Greece – what scares experts

There has been widespread concern in the country since Wednesday morning after the head of the catering staff complained that a hotel unit in Attica was closed due to bed bugs.

These insects have become nightmares for many people, not because of what their bites cause to people, but because they occupy various places and do not leave.

In fact, insect bites usually go away on their own within a week or two, and these insects can cause many problems in the human body.

“Unfortunately we have bed bugs. Not from those who listen to us, but from those who bite us. A hotel in the seaside suburb of Attica was forced to close a section to continue disinfection. I don’t know how effective it is, but it is among other problems,” said Food and Giorgos Hotzoglou, head of tourism workers, revealed today.

At the hotel, as expected, there was panic. Clients were immediately moved to other rooms, the ward in question was disinfected and they are now looking for possible contagion.

“It is clear that some of our guests, mainly from France, brought insects with them, and unfortunately they also got stuck in the hotel. There is a big problem with mattresses in hotels. We burned them in the army, but I don’t know if a hotel can, if there is such a problem, if they get into the mattresses, the mattress in every room The cost of conversion is high,” he added.

Anxiety is mounting

While the problem is currently confined to one hotel sector, the concern is widespread across Europe.

However, images from Britain of small children covered in red spots from bed bug bites are justifiably worrying parents.

“Bed bugs can cause a bug rash, but on the other hand, they don’t spread infections,” says the attribute. Professor of Dermatology, Joey Appalla.

And bedbugs don’t spread diseases like mosquitoes and ticks, but images of Paris streets littered with discarded mattresses by frustrated residents are thought-provoking.

At the same time, both France and Britain are running out of medicine for bites, and tourists are fleeing the City of Light.

“Bugs are also found in public transport such as ships, planes and buses”

However, as Giorgos Lambrou, president of the Hellenic Society of Insecticides and Pesticides (SEAME), spoke on the ERT program “Syndeses”, the problem of insects has always been there.

“Essentially we are talking about an insect – the traveler, that is, it can easily enter the luggage and in this way be transported to any part of the world, anywhere. It can also be found in public transport, such as ships, planes or buses. The bed bug has a place where it is difficult to nest. Seeking, so in many cases we understand the widespread infection caused by bites, which can be classified as ‘kajoma’,” said Mr. Lampreau explained.

“We see them in hotels, in camps, in refugee and migrant accommodation centers, even in apartments. However, we should not panic. This is something that can be solved. There are integrated management solutions. We should not go to extreme measures and certainly not put our health at risk. On surfaces that come into contact with the skin, i.e. “There have been cases where we have seen individuals carelessly applying chemicals on sofas, mattresses, chairs, etc. We have also seen spraying. In my opinion, it is unjustified,” he asserted.

“It doesn’t create any other problems.”

For her part, Matina Pagoni, head of EINAP, speaking to Live News and MEGA, explained that bed bugs have been affecting France for seven months and that it is logical that they will arrive in Greece at some point.

“It may develop a rash, but no other complications. If someone is allergic and develops a large rash, they should contact professionals. Hotels have already taken their measures. Bed bugs have nothing to do with cleanliness.”

However, despite the arrival of bed bugs in Greece, experts recommend keeping calm, stressing that bed bug incidents in hotels are not new and pointing out that you should consult a dermatologist as soon as you notice a bite.