Unwanted guests can take many forms, and recent reports showed that bedbugs got more than they bargained for when they hitchhiked into Hawaii’s largest airport. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu had to shut down three gates in Terminal 2 used by Southwest Hawaii flights when officials received notice of the unwelcome passengers. Although officials promptly cleaned the area, they were initially unsure if the infestation was in fact bedbugs, but a Southwest manager then confirmed that the bugs were still present. A sample was sent to the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT), which confirmed they were bedbugs.
The HDOT then conducted a deep cleaning of the affected gate areas, including the removal of any possible attractants, carpet removal, the use of non-toxic bug spray, and calls to pest control for preventative measures. The gates have since reopened, but the department will conduct additional deep cleaning over the next three weeks to prevent a recurrence. The bugs probably hitched a ride in luggage or clothing, a common method for bedbugs to seize opportunities to move about undetected.
As well as being a nuisance, bedbugs also pose health risks, given that they are tiny insects that feed on human blood. However, most people won’t see them unless numerous, since bedbugs often retreat to the darkest areas, such as inside mattresses, picture frames or other furnishings. Possible clues to bedbug activity include bites on the body, shells from when they shed their skins, or fecal spotting, visible as small blackish specks. To avoid unwanted bedbug encounters, travelers should be vigilant in checking their clothing, bedding, and luggage, and, in case of bites, wash the affected areas with soap and water and use an over-the-counter corticosteroid cream to soothe discomfort.
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