Can Bedbugs Be Spread Into the Workplace?

After the 1950s, bed bugs in the U.S. became a rare problem, the use of DDT pesticide having almost eradicated them. Recent years have seen bed bugs come back stronger than ever, with increased numbers of infestations.

The Bugs

• The bed bug is a very small, flat-bodied insect that can be found almost anywhere in a home and, as the name suggests, often in beds. They do not grow larger than 3/16 inch, so they can be very hard to see unless you are looking for them.

Diet

• Signs of an infestation are small red spots or rashes where the bugs have bitten. The sole diet of the bug is blood, and the species is suited to feeding on humans.

Spreading to the Workplace

• Because of the bed bugs' small size and ability to hang onto things, they can easily hitch a ride in clothing and suitcases. If someone has a home infestation of the bugs, that person can transport unwanted bugs on their clothes anywhere they go, including the workplace. The bed bugs can then move rapidly into the carpets at work and, potentially, onto the clothes of others.