Bedbug warning puts summer travelers on alert as top U.S. hot spots are revealed

A new report ranks which U.S. cities and states appear to carry the highest risk for travelers encountering bedbugs.

Bedbugs are small insects that feed on blood. They’re about the size of an apple seed, Zachary DeVries, associate professor of urban entomology at the University of Kentucky, told Fox News Digital.

"Bedbugs live in close proximity to humans or animals and like to be where we sleep or rest – beds, couches, nearby furniture, etc.," he said.

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A report published by casino.ca ranked Michigan as the state with the highest bedbug risk, with estimated odds of 1 in 57 of encountering the pests there. Warren, Michigan, is America’s top bedbug hot-spot city, the publication said.

Ohio was the second-most likely state for people to encounter bedbugs, while Maryland came in as the third riskiest. Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were four and five on the list, respectively.

After Warren, North Las Vegas, NV and Madison, WI were the top bedbug hot-spot cities, according to the report.

Hawaii was the state where travelers are least likely to encounter bedbugs, followed by Oregon.

Casino.ca said it combined the latest bedbug rankings from Orkin and Terminix with TripAdvisor hotel reviews from the three largest cities in every state. It also analyzed low-rated reviews mentioning bedbugs, treatment data and social-media posts to estimate encounter risk.

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While such reports "make for fun reads," DeVries cautioned against putting too much stock in them.  

"The main problem I have with these [rankings] is they make it seem like urban areas have all the bedbug problems, but from some recent work we’ve done and anecdotal reports, we know bedbugs can show up anywhere – urban, suburban or rural," he said.

"In fact, while people are more packed together in urban areas and thus more likely to bump into bedbugs, those living in rural areas may have less access to good pest control services and thus may find it more difficult to get rid of bedbugs."

This recent report represents areas where big companies have a stronger presence and doesn't necessarily reflect the problem across the U.S. evenly, DeVries added.

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Dini Miller, professor of urban pest management at Virginia Tech University, told Fox News Digital that places tend to get attention for bedbugs when people are visiting and looking for them.

"You wouldn't believe how many different media companies got ahold of me when it was Paris Fashion Week," she said, adding that a similar trend may be happening now because of the the World Cup.

Miller theorized that Warren, MI, not a well-known tourist destination, may have topped the list because people are visiting family this summer, encountering bedbugs in their homes and possibly taking them back to hotels.

Bedbugs are more likely to be found in apartment complexes and people’s homes than in hotels, the experts said. The elderly are particularly prone to infestations, Miller said, because their diminished immune responses and other health challenges often make them less aware of the bites.

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"Hotels are much more conscientious about looking for bedbugs because they don't want to end up on the Bed Bug Registry," said Miller.

They also change bedding often, she said, and washing linens is effective at killing bedbugs.

It’s important to look for live or dead bugs and fecal stains, which will appear as small dots, DeVries said.  

"When traveling, it’s good to be alert and check your bed," he said. "Check along the seams and behind the headboard and on adjacent furniture. No need to spend tons of time searching, but a quick look can go a long way to preventing them from coming home with you."

Miller travels constantly for her work and stays in hotels all over the world several times each month. She also visits people’s homes that are infested with bedbugs and said she has never in 20 years brought a bedbug home.

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She advises, as a precaution, using a sticky roller on clothes and upholstery to check for bugs. Check the bottom of shoes, too. She tells social workers who regularly visit homes infested with bedbugs to bring their own folding chair and carry their belongings in a plastic tub with a snapping lid.

Miller said a bedbug or two likely won’t result in an infestation, unless it’s a pregnant female. Putting fabric in the dryer on high heat for about half an hour is usually enough to kill bedbugs.

In some cases, though, people may need to employ professionals to eradicate bedbugs.

"Bedbugs are a part of life now," DeVries said. "Given the difficulty in getting rid of them and the harm they can cause, it’s worth being proactive when traveling and when living in multi-family housing. 

"That said, don’t let bedbugs run your life. The only true way to never get bedbugs is to live in isolation, but then you miss out on all the fun things out there. While bedbugs can be scary, they are still just an insect, and we have many effective ways to get rid of them."