INVASION OF THE BODY SCRATCHERS!

New bedbug horror facing Britain

By Sophy Ridge

HERE'S something to make your skin crawl... Britain is in the grip of an epidemic of BEDBUGS.

And no, don't sit down in shock—the seats on public transport are CRAWLING with the little suckers too.

Cases of the blood-leeching parasites have rocketed in the past two years —in some cases calls to pest control firms are up a whopping 500 PER CENT. But in parts of London they've soared TENFOLD, with big cities like Manchester taking the brunt of infestations.

Experts are even warning passengers on buses and trains: "Keep standing—the seats may be infested with them."

Bedbugs—red-brown and about the same size as an apple pip—feed on human blood by piercing the skin. They can suck up four times their own body weight in 15 mins.

The insects, whose bites cause itching, and in some cases allergic reactions, were virtually eradicated in the 1950s. But global warming and holidaymakers bringing them in from abroad are to blame for their return.

Bug boffin David Cain said: "We're facing an epidemic. I've had 500 per cent more calls this year reporting outbreaks than last. It's gone ballistic."

And Kevin Higgins, British Pest Control Association expert, said: "We need to get this under control. The bedbug population is spiralling."

Adult females typically lay 350 eggs in their lifetime, causing a dramatic rise in outbreaks. Manchester is one of the worst hit with a 179 per cent increase in calls in the past year, according to Rentokil. Nottingham isn't far behind with a 98 per cent increase compared to 52 per cent nationwide.

Mr Cain added: "Public transport is a big way of spreading bugs. People need to be cautious and avoid sitting down.

"If people's homes are badly hit they'll carry bedbugs on their clothes. If they sit on public transport they'll leave the bedbugs behind when they get up and the next person will get a dose."

One flat he treated was over-run with 50,000 bedbugs which had been there for five years and spread to four other homes. And in another case he treated 15 properties on the same road.

He added: "I'm often called out to people with more than 150 BITES."

Rentokil boss Savvas Othon said: "Outbreaks are on the rise. The number of people travelling and the current warm UK temperatures are helping the bugs to spread and thrive.

"You can easily pick them up on buses, in airport lounges and from other people's dry cleaning. Even car boot sales make it worse as people buy furniture which may already be infested."

Experts advise vacuuming mattresses and cleaning regularly to keep the bugs at bay. But if you've got them, there's only one thing for it.

Who you gonna call?...pest busters.

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