Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – A bedbug outbreak has reportedly reached Singapore. Previously, bed bug attacks in public places were first reported in Paris, France and then spread to a number of other cities in the world.
In Singapore, pest control company Aardwolf Pestkare said there had been a 40% increase in bed bug-related cases in the last two months, according to a CNA report.
Another pest extermination company, Pestbusters, has also seen demand increase by around 15% in the last six months.
“The numbers continue to increase and I suspect the numbers will probably continue to increase because the holiday season is approaching,” said Joachim Lee, entomologist at Pestbusters, as quoted by CNA on Tuesday (21/10/2023).
Likewise, Peter Chan of Aardwolf Pestkare also estimates that the number of bookworm infections will increase by 20% to 30% in the first quarter of 2024, after people return from year-end holidays abroad.
“Bed bugs are really great passengers,” he said.
Chan added that one way to avoid bringing these pests home is to soak clothes and other items in water with a temperature above 60 degrees Celsius.
In Asia, apart from Singapore, the bed bug outbreak has also reached South Korea. The South Korean government has even prepared funds amounting to 500 million won or around Rp. 5.98 billion (assuming an exchange rate of Rp. 11.96/won) to overcome the bed bug outbreak in seven districts in Seoul.
[Gambas:Video CNBC]
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