As summer vacation approaches, travelers are being warned about the U.S. cities where they're most likely to encounter bedbugs. Bedbugs are small insects that feed on blood and live near humans or animals, often inhabiting places where people sleep or rest, such as beds, couches, and nearby furniture. They can cause itchy bites, skin irritation, and in some cases, allergic reactions.
The top bedbug-infested cities in the country have been identified, with the Windy City holding onto its spot as the most infested city for the fifth consecutive year. Los Angeles, Detroit, Cleveland, and Indianapolis rounded out the top five this year. Popular tourist destinations Tampa and Myrtle Beach also experienced increased bedbug activity.
Many of the cities with the worst bedbug activity are also popular travel destinations, expected to welcome large numbers of visitors for major concerts, festivals, and sporting events throughout the summer. Nashville and Oklahoma City each climbed 10 spots on this year's list, while Youngstown, Omaha, and Knoxville recorded some of the largest declines.
The rankings are based on treatment data from metro areas where the most bedbug treatments were performed over the past year, including both residential and commercial treatments. The persistent and evolving nature of bedbug activity across the nation is highlighted by year-over-year changes in the rankings.
Experts recommend taking precautions when traveling to avoid bringing bedbugs back home. When staying in a hotel or other accommodation, it's essential to inspect mattress seams, upholstered furniture, and behind headboards for bedbugs. Using a sticky lint roller on clothing, upholstery, and the bottoms of shoes can also help detect hitchhiking bed bugs.
Bedbug infestations can occur anywhere, regardless of location. While urban areas tend to have more bedbug problems due to higher population density, rural areas may have less access to good pest control services, making it more difficult to get rid of bedbugs.
