Woman in the UK receives compensation after bed bug bites

A woman in Britain received a compensation of £312 after suffering insect bites in a hotel.

Vicky Hills, who was staying at the Premier Inn in Hastings, noticed bite marks on her legs that were causing “unbelievable itching.”

At first, Hills thought they were mosquito bites, but a doctor informed her that they were from bed bugs and prescribed antibiotics, according to the Daily Mail.

After contacting the hotel, she received £78, which was the amount she paid for her room. However, compensation for her medication and the bites took nearly two months. She received an apology from the hotel management and was reimbursed £312.

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The increase in bed bug numbers in Europe can be attributed to the lockdown measures imposed due to the coronavirus.

Hills revealed that she first noticed the bite marks on her legs when she was driving home after her hotel stay. She told BBC News, “I had two lines on the front of my leg, and I went to the pharmacy, and they said it could be bed bugs, and my GP confirmed that and prescribed antibiotics.”

Mrs. Hills then got rid of her bed at home and bought insect traps to ensure they didn’t spread in her house.

She said she still has some scars from the insect bites, but she hopes they will fade soon.

Concerns about the spread of bed bugs have increased in the United Kingdom, in the backdrop of a bed bug epidemic in France.

The French government held crisis meetings to control the spread of bed bugs ahead of hosting the 2024 Olympic Games.

Data from pest control company Rentokil in September showed a 65% increase in bed bug infestations in the UK from 2022 to 2023.

Bed bugs largely disappeared from daily life in developed countries in the mid-20th century but have made a resurgence.

Factors include increasing resistance to insecticides, increased travel, and an increased preference for used goods.

Bed bugs can hitch a ride on clothes or luggage, meaning people can inadvertently help them move between locations and start new infestations. They can also crawl between hotel rooms and residential complexes.

Bed bugs reproduce quickly, with each female laying one to seven eggs a day after feeding, for a total of up to 250 eggs in her 10-month lifespan. They can survive for weeks to months without feeding.