bed bugs 2013

[Free As a Bird]

Interesting responses. Buen Camino to

 

[kmrice]

Mary, if a treatment lasts 14 days, that means I will need to reapply during my Camino. Is permethrin available along the Camino?

Karl

 

[Deleted member 3000]

One treatment will last up to six washings or six weeks before clothing has to be treated again

That is for clothes. On a backpack or sleep sack, which probably don't get washed, you can make it through a whole camino.

 

[geordiewanderer]

I've bought a 'mosquito net treatment kit' which I'm going to treat my sleeping bag liner (as directed for the mosquito net), then will spray the inside of my sleeping bag, and the inside and outside of my rucksack before I leave for St Jean next week....I've had bedbugs in hostels in Morocco when others in the room were fine, although I'm looking forward to (possibly) much worse....early mornings, snorers, aches, pains, blisters etc!!

 

[Peregrina 2013]

Karl, Falcon is correct. It's only for the clothes that you treat with the Permethrin yourself. The treated gear that you purchase is good for up to 70 washes.

 

[High Endeavours]

I contacted Campmor and they have (again) confirmed that the silk liner does work to repel bed bugs. So good news. Thanks Mary!

 

[Peregrina 2013]

High Endeavors, it's great to know that as bed bugs go, you have one less thing to be concerned about. Enjoy your Camino.

Ultreia!

Mary

 

[High Endeavours]

Thanks, you too! Very much looking forward to the experience.

Geoff

 

[Susannafromsweden]

I'm probably one of the most sensitive persons in the world to chemicals with my MCS. And the smell alone of these sheets make me sick. But for a normal person, they should be no problem.

You are not "wrapping yourself up" in the sheet if you get the kind you just lay on the bed, then put your own sleeping bag on top of.

And for the other people, using it for a few days probably won't hurt most people. Our bodies do a good job of chelating chemicals unless they're broken like mine.

Also, I would not use this with a child (the sleeping bag one) but wouldn't hesitate to put it UNDER their sleeping bag.

I probably would not wrap myself up in a sleepsack, even if I did not have MCS, if it were impregnated with permetrin, but that's just me...

That's just my opinion.

I've been thinking about doing that, buy a sheet which looks like a net and put it under my sleeping bag. That is one of the very few permetrin things you still can buy in Sweden. You can't buy the spray here.
I wondered why and found out they used to have permetrin in the forest industry, but it was forbidden 2003. And they used it against bugs mosquitos etc on horses, but that was forbidden 2012.
There was an article about Swedish soldiers abroad. Their uniforms were treated with permethrin, but they are not allowed to take them with them back home to Sweden, they must burn them, because of the permetrin.
That's how hip permetrin is in Sweden.
I wonder if one can buy a bottle of spray in Spain? If I should get bed bugs on my things. And before I go home I could have my clothes washed at a laundry.

 

[Peregrina 2013]

Susanna, if you PM me I can probably help you. Will you be on the Camino this summer?

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Thats very kind of you, manoll.

I have just bought the bed bug sheet to put under my sleeping bag.

I'm trying to find something environmental friendly stuff too.

One thing worries me. They say you got to wash your clothes very warm. 50 c to get rid of eggs.
But I'm taking merino t shirts. And they can only be washed in 30c!

 

[Bozzie]

High Endeavors, it's great to know that as bed bugs go, you have one less thing to be concerned about. Enjoy your Camino.

Ultreia!

Mary

Hola!
It might be a good idea to take a plastic bag that's been treated to place your rutsack/backpack in if you're setting it on the floor. I took a thin cloth "laundry bag" which I'd sprayed with perethrin before leaving for the Camino. Jus' sayin'...and I also placed my backpack in it whenever I sent my bag ahead or anywhere where other pilgrim packs were being transported. Unfortunately, not all pilgrims are concerned about carrying bedbugs from one place to another, although it's not great for the albergues, and not good for others wanting to avoid being bitten and the hassle of getting rid of them. There were a couple of pilgrims in Sept/Oct who stayed in albergues knowing perfectly well they had them, and still did nothing about it because "everyone knows bed bugs don't kill you and it's too much trouble to get rid of them!" Those people were selfishly spreading them along the Way which affects others. And, then once you get home, it's very expensive if the bugs infest your home. (one couple I met told me their daughter spent $10,000 US dollars to get rid of them...new beds, bedding, couch, cloth chairs and had to have their house "tented" by exterminators) BED BUGS CAN BE AVOIDED by checking the beds and walls, baseboards. Why worry when you can just check!!! I didn't get bitten, didn't bring them home. Go online and see how to do it. There are lots of videos about the subject.
(Have a) Buen Camino!
"Bozzie"
(Dee Anne)

 

[Susannafromsweden]

:lol: :lol: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Thank you manoll for a very good laugh!!
Well it's Friday!
I remember a friend who said he washed his wool sweater in 90c once. I think he gave it to his teddy bear after that!

Buen camino!

 

[Peregrina 2013]

LOL! That's funny Susanna! Have a great weekend!

Buen Camino!

Mary

 

[Anniesantiago]

Regarding placing your backpack on the floor or on the bed...

I will never ever ever put my backpack on the floor!
That is how bedbugs get from one bed to the other.
They do not fly.
They WALK from one bed to the other via the floor or wall.
Or they breed in the mattress or wall.

I take paracord or a bungie and hang my pack from the bedpost or put the bag on a chair or high place. If there is no place, you can carry a garbage sack, put your bag in the sack, twist tie it shut, and put it on the bed or floor.

But I personally will never put my pack on the floor.

 

[David]

Just an aside here - over the last few years there has been an outbreak of bedbugs in hotels throughout the 1st world, a really huge increase, mainly in cities with international airports ..... I have been wondering ... the hotel plague seems to correlate to the increase in international pilgrims ... you don't think folk are taking them to their home countries do you ... :|

 

[Bozzie]

I've bought a 'mosquito net treatment kit' which I'm going to treat my sleeping bag liner (as directed for the mosquito net), then will spray the inside of my sleeping bag, and the inside and outside of my rucksack before I leave for St Jean next week....I've had bedbugs in hostels in Morocco when others in the room were fine, although I'm looking forward to (possibly) much worse....early mornings, snorers, aches, pains, blisters etc!!

Hola, Geordiewanderer...
If you spray the exterior of your sleeping bag, that should do it! Not sure I'd want to sleep next to nor breathe permethrin inside of the sleeping bag. They say only to spray the exterior. You should always check the mattress around the seams for bed bug brown "excrement" as well as the slat areas underneath the mattress...and the baseboards and wall area around the bed. If you see any excrement "markings" get another place to stay or move to another room. Don't use the blankets, either!

Buen Camino!
"Bozzie"
(Dee Anne)

 

[Peregrina 2013]

DeeAnne, I respectfully disagree with the statement of not wanting to sleep next to or breathe Permethrin every night! There has been ample studies about the safe use of permetherin on clothing. On the http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheet ... thing.html
site there is plenty information. In a previous post on this topic there are other links to studies and the EPA statement of Permethrin that asserts it is safe to use.
Before making a statement like this based on hearsay, I prefer to research the subject to exhaustion and then decide if I want to purchase or not certain product. That is the reason why I am comfortable with my choice to use the InsectShield Silk Liner. If there was not enough information to prove to me that it is safe, then that liner would not be part of my gear!

Ultreia!

Mary

 

[Susannafromsweden]

Dear manoll,
I think there's a difference between US and the countries in EU when it comes to which substances are ok, and not. As I told you yesterday permethrin is banned in Sweden. Here it is called a neurotoxin.
I was curious if they use it in Spain, but according to this:
http://www.pan-europe.info/Archive/Bann ... orised.htm
It's banned in the plant industry in all European union.
It's funny as one can still buy small bottles with the substance from UK on ebay.
It is dangerous for cats and fish, and people working with it in the past got problems with the skin, irritation, redness etc.

Anyway. I think that if its banned in some countries, then there's got to be something wrong with it.
Be careful.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Columbia Sportswear and Ex-Officio have lines of clothing treated with permethrin. Their lawyers, and maybe their scientists, believe it is safe.

Protecting yourself is more important than ever. BugsAway® is a complete line of insect repellent clothing using Insect Shield® technology to convert apparel and gear into long-lasting, effective, and convenient bug protection. Treated with Permethrin, BugsAway clothing and gear is effective through 70 washings against mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers and midges.

 

[Susannafromsweden]

But Columbia is a brand from US, no?
Seems like permethrin is ok to use there. Which doesn't mean it is harmless.

The reason it's being banned, I suppose, is because it's not environmentally friendly.
These days, people want to be kind to the environment.
So it wold be nice to find something better, if there is.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Often there is very little consensus on chemicals. I will not be surprised when the cosmetics used daily by women are found to cause cancer. Permethrin kills things. It is known to be bad for aquarium fish and pets, and bad for humans when the wet form contacts skin. After it is dried, it is said to be safe. So what happens when I perspire in my treated sleep sack? Is it liquid permethrin again? I personally have decided that the risk is worth keeping bed bugs away. In the U.S. permethrin is approved as a component of sportswear. In Canada it is banned for human use, but available as a full body wash for livestock. You can slather it onto your horse, presumably wearing gloves, but not treat you sleeping bag with it.

Permethrin works, or at least it works better than the alternatives. All the natural alternatives do not work unless they are some form of permethrin, which is made from natural sources. Anything that is harmless probably is not particularly effective against anything, hence the controversy over GMO food products. Is insect resistant corn really healthy for human consumption after it is not longer healthy for insect for consumption? Decisions have consequences, and often come down to two somewhat undesirable choices.

 

[Bozzie]

Before making a statement like this based on hearsay, I prefer to research the subject to exhaustion and then decide if I want to purchase or not certain producthttp://www.1channel.ch/watch-273 ... for-Change. That is the reason why I am comfortable with my choice to use the InsectShield Silk Liner. If there was not enough information to prove to me that it is safe, then that liner would not be part of my gear!

Hola, Mary...I appreciate your concerns... I used permethrin in and outside of my backpack, on the outside (only outside) of my sleeping bag and the outside of my boots. As I stated, I had a perethrin treated thin cloth laundry bag to carry my bag in anytime it was transported with other bags, ie trains, planes, cars, etc. I read several articles on the Internet, watched many videos on how to use permethrin before I treated my gear. I decided not to spray my clothes because I didn't want to have exposure directly on my sweaty skin or when I washed my clothes every night. I took the chance to spray my gear because I did not want bed bugs.I also continued to check the mattress and bed, as well as the surrounding area each night...just to rest well. . Just to make sure none of the critters did make it home with me, the minute I got home, I took off my clothes and washed them. I left my boots and backpack and laundry bag outside, put them in a large garbage bag, sprayed permethrin in the bag, tied it up and left it in outside in the sun for a week. You might think that this method was overkill, but I did my research. I think you have to do whatever it is to feel confident without putting yourself and others at risk.
DA

 

[Peregrina 2013]

Hi DeeAnne, no, I don´t think it´s overkill at all. You are doing everything you can to protect yourself of those nasty beasties. To say that one method is the only or the best way to protect yourself and your gear from bed bugs and other insects would be idiotic on my part. Like Susanne from Sweden mentions, Permethrin is banned in her country and in other European nations. Mmmm, perhaps they know something that our EPA doesn't, or won't acknowledge as harmful to the environment :? - what an oxymoron that would be :twisted: !!

Ultreia!

Mary

 

[EllenM]

Hello all,
Since I am concerned about my safety as permethrin is so toxic to fish and I'm not sure I trust my own US government to keep me safe from noxious chemicals, I am looking for other, more natural, ways of dealing with bedbugs. I was excited to read about bean leaves in the New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/10/scien ... recg&_r=1&

http://rsif.royalsocietypublishing.org/ ... 30174.full

Has anyone tried to purchase bean leaves along the way? Does anyone have any ideas about where along the way one might buy them? When would Spanish farmers even have bean leaves in their fields? Will they look at me as if I am crazy if I ask for hojas de frijoles? How many bean leaves does it take? Where do you strew the leaves?

I'm leaving next week for my Camino, so if I find any sources of bean leaves along the way, I will post back.
Thanks,
Ellen
ps Look at the articles if nothing more than to see the photo of the little bedbug leg getting trapped by the spikes on the bean leaves!

 

[Pieces]

actually, it is real easy to avoid bedbugs and all bedbug related issues.

Just go in the off season....

 

[Peregrina 2013]

Ellen, in Spain you would ask for hojas de judías verdes or alubias or even guisantes based on variety of beans and depending on where you are in Spain. I read with interest the research about the bean leaves, though it looks like a good idea, it seems that it would be quite a chore just trying to find a field that has them! The majority of the beans consumed in Spain, though come from Morocco and America. Hopefully you know what bean plants look like, and if you are able to stop and talk to field care-takers along the way, an important question you might want to ask is what kind of chemicals or pesticides are used to control the typical bean pests, like white and red spiders, white and field flies and aphids.
Which Camino will you be on?

Ultreia!

Mary

 

[max44]

I posted here before I walked the camino, I fall into bed. I must admit I am leaving the bed bug care and checking to the vigilant care takers. After looking up the subject in detail, it would seem you have just as high a chance in the USA. It's a worldwide problem.

 

[Peregrina 2013]

Worrying about and trying to prevent bed bug bites does seem like an endless topic and a daunting task! True, we have them with us! I guess I don't even think about it when I stay at a hotel. So, I will do what I can to ward off the beasties, and that is that. Caution and common sense

 

[Niconish]

Whats the bedbug situation like on the frances? And how can i treat my sleeping bag or protect myself from bites (besides sleeping on the floor)? Im easily bitten and also get rashes from exposure to the sun.... Just cannot afford to be more itchy and scratchy than usuak. Thanks!

 

[max44]

I just completed my FULL camino from SJPDP.
In nearly every case, plastic mattress covers and other measures were being used to prevent bugs. I had no issues. Looks like they are on top of it.
The exception was SAMOS. It looked like everything was dirty and not washed for 5 years. Glad we kept our disposable mattress covers from another place

 

[Pieces]

well bedbug season hasn't really started yet...

 

[stelrey]

well bedbug season hasn't really started yet...

What is this "bedbug season" of which you speak? Do you mean that if I'm walking in March and April, I don't really have to worry about the little darlings?

 

[Pieces]

yes bedbugs don't like the cold, so there are hardly any reports in winter/spring...

 

[Annie Little]

What about Sept/ October??? If indeed most places provide mattress covers it should be OK?

I guess there is a chance of gettings bugs even if staying in hotels anyway

Annie

 

[Annie Little]

Blimey this topic does my head in . I am not worried about the bites just about bringing them home

 

[Anniesantiago]

They begin really hatching out when the weather has been hot for 7-10 days after some good moist weather. Sounds like we have about a week to go! Lol. That is per a parochial hospitalero who knows.

Yes. If you go in the early spring there is less chance of bedbugs. By August and September they are having fiestas in the bed springs! Ole!

 

[Callea]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but several people have arrived at my albergue today needing to be treated for bedbugs/possible bedbugs. I'm at an albergue early stage in Galicia, so apparently they've hatched somewhere behind us.

 

[Annie Little]

Last year I NEARLY cancelled a trip to Cambodia because of the warnings about Mozzies and dengue fever which was epidemic . I overcame my fear- went- had a fabulous time.

On these forums I have read about bed bugs; vultures; packs of dogs; and robbers- so guess as is usual for me - I will go anyway - have a fabulous time and relate the story next year before the next trip etc etc :lol:

Annie

 

[Pieces]

I think you wil find that the bed bugs by far outnumber the vultures and robbers

 

[Annie Little]

:lol: :lol:

 

[AML]

Hi All,

Has anyone tried the Lifesystems bed bug sheet? does it fit the matresses and is it easily secured in place? I was considering getting this to place on the mattress to ease my mind if nothing else! I was thinking either this sheet or else just a single fitted mattress cover and soak it in Permethrin. I'm sure this would be better than nothing!
Thanks

 

[Caminomary525]

I weighed one of the fitted twin sheets from our house and it weighed over a pound. Without added pyrmethrum. Is that unusually heavy or will that be the weight "cost" of that kind of bed bog protection? Seems like a good idea except for the weight.

 

[markss]

People may really be overreacting to this bedbug situation. I have an extreme reaction to bee stings (they send be to a hospital emergency room) and even the simplest of mosquito bites cause that area of my body to swell and itch, far more so than anyone else I know. Accordingly I was very concerned at the possibility of bed bugs. Fortunately I didn't come across them myself and very, very few other pilgrims had. The rare few that did get bites dealt with them, quickly resolving the issue. It did not ruin their Camino and certainly was nowhere near the problem that some may fear from the comments on forums like these.

Relax ... no I am certain that they are not pleasant. However it does not seem to be that big a deal for the people that do get them. And it is not that difficult to ensure that they don't tag along with you on the travels back to your home.

 

[Trekster]

You could just get a piece of soft Tyvek and spray it with Permethrin. Lightweight, small volume in your pack.

 

[Pieces]

I got bitten on both my Cominos, even if I used the life system sheet on the second one.

The main issue is really bringing them home. but they DO itch a lot for about a week or so...

 

[markss]

Ah yes. So easy for me never having encountered them to say it may be no big deal. No disrespect or lack of compassion intended.

 

[Annie Little]

I am not concerned about the bites..... more concerned about bringing them home........maybe I shall cure myself of paranoia on the Camino ... :lol:

Annie

 

[backpack45]

Eleven hikes on various Camino trails and 0 bedbugs. Not to say it doesn't happen or to deny that encountering them would be unpleasant--just saying, they don't get everyone. I've never used anything to repel them, but I do occasionally check the mattresses, etc. to see if there are any signs.
"Soft" Tyvek, sprayed with Permethrin, was suggested--just to add my .02, once you wash Tyvek, it becomes soft and is no longer noisy.
Backpack45

 

[Pieces]

one may have been bitten without knowing, and also bring them home without having been bitten.

The bites are allergic reactions and not everyone bitten are allergic, and men tend to be less than women...

Season is almost starting and while there may be no reason for paranoia just be mindful as they are nasty little buggers...

 

[AML]

Tyvek stuff sounds good, how would one secure it in place so it doesn't move around? I suppose a piece big enough to tuck in underneath the mattress at the sides would be ample. I that material used as underlay for roofing houses? Might be able to pick up some easy enough.
Thanks, Aidan

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Regular Tyvek is the construction vapor barrier you see. It does not soften much with washing. Soft Tyvek comes without the printing, and gets softer when washed. Try eBay or a Internet search for roll end quantities. A whole roll is expensive.

 

[AML]

Regular Tyvek is the construction vapor barrier you see. It does not soften much with washing. Soft Tyvek comes without the printing, and gets softer when washed. Try eBay or a Internet search for roll end quantities. A whole roll is expensive.

Thanks...much appreciated. :wink:
Aidan

 

[Trekster]

You can get Tyvek by the yard from online kite making shops.

 

[Jennifer Juniper]

Thank you. I was just about to ask where I could get it!

 

[Caminomary525]

What has been peoples' experience with clothing, other items sprayed with pyrethrin? Is there residual odor? Different "feel" to cloth? Thanks.

 

[grayland]

What has been peoples' experience with clothing, other items sprayed with pyrethrin? Is there residual odor? Different "feel" to cloth? Thanks.

I have used it for years. I have not noticed any residual odor and I have looked for it.
There is no change to the "feel" of the cloth.

 

[Trekster]

I have used permethrin in Africa for that past several years to keep the mozzies at bay. Sprayed my clothes, liner and bed net, and couldn't smell or feel a difference. Had to re-spray from time to time as the permethrin doesn't last forever.

 

[ManyMiles2Go]

A friend just told me that you can use a Bounce laundry sheet and wipe it over the bed sides and also to keep on in my backpack. She said it will keep all the bugs away. Not tested by me yet, but I am going to try it in two months!

 

[CaminoGen]

It may not hurt but I highly doubt it works...Bedbugs are really hard to get rid of and kill. Long-term freezing and hot washing ate the only "natural" ways to do so. Aside from that, chemichals are necessary I'm afraid. Lavander, tea tree and other natural things may "wake" them and make their presence known, it won't stop them from getting into your pack or boots and hitch a ride

 

[Anniesantiago]

Bounce won't repel or kill the bedbug but it is highly toxic to humans.

 

[ManyMiles2Go]

Bounce won't repel or kill the bedbug but it is highly toxic to humans.

How can Bounce be toxic to humans? You have to touch the sheet with your hands to put it into the dryer, then you wear the clothing that is "treated" with the Bounce sheet. How can it be toxic? Could you give me a source where you got that information? Thanks!!

Jim

 

[ManyMiles2Go]

Hey Annie,

Just looked at your blog about the bedbugs! Awesome information :!: . Thanks for that!! Still don't understand the toxic Bounce post though? Anyway, I will be checking more of your blogs about the Camino!! Thanks again.

Jim

 

[kmrice]

I got some soft Tyvec - what would be the ideal size to cut it down to?

Karl

 

[AML]

Does anyone know where I can get some strong Permethrin in the UK or Ireland? I have seen stuff on Amazon but it only has 0.2% Permethrin and I don't think its quite strone enough. I'm only going to put it on a fitted sheet to fit over the mattress, not putting any on my sleeping bag. Probably spray the outside of my rucksack also.
Thanks, Aidan

 

[AML]

thanks Lise T,
I have seen EX8 alright...its only 100ml spray container though. I have seen EX4 too on ebay but doesn't state % Permethrin.I assume its less! Thanks for your help.
Aidan

 

[Shairn]

Permethrin is a neurotoxin associated with autism and Alzheimer's. are you sure it's worth exposing yourself and others out of fear of bed bugs? Look at it this way: humans evolved over thousands of years coexisting with bedbugs. They are not dangerous (unlike toxic chemicals). You don't freak out about mosquitoes. And the likelihood of encountering bedbugs is small. And not a big deal if you do.
Also, part of the Camino is reexperiencing a simpler older existence. You will see centuries old farms, people hoeing in their fields, walk over thousand year old roads built by hand and still standing. Suddenly what would take 15 minutes in a car becomes a whole days experience. On the Camino I often felt thankful for my comfortable shoes and socks, but also wondered what it would have like to walk it in leather sandals...
We are part of a human river that has flowed these tributaries for centuries. We walk on paths that countless generations before us made and left for us to inherit. Lets be conscious of leaving clean healthy paths for those who come after. Please say no to toxic chemicals!

 

[CaminoGen]

Have fun paying thousands of dollars/Euros trying to get rid if them id pu bring back a few home. I'll stick with a permathrin treated bag and liner.

 

[NoorvanderVeen]

I have ordered a Lifeventure Dristore 750gr sleepingbag, that is said to be treated with 'EX³ triple layer protection', which, according to Lifeventure, protects you against bedbugs. Received the thing in the mail today, but it doesn't feel like a comfortable sleeping bag at all. Being in there for a minute makes you sweaty already. So I am going to return it.

Anyway, I have decided to treat my own comfy sleeping bag with permethrin. I'm wondering whether you are all talking about 100% permethrin sprays. I live in the Netherlands, where - as in all of the EU - permethrin is illegal in its pure form. I have, however, found an insect repellent spray that contains 0,25% permethrin. Will that be enough to repell the bugs? Any thoughts?

 

[AML]

I don't think you can get 100% Permethrin concentrate! I wouldn't fancy using it too strongly to be honest in case you may have a reaction or irritation. I only intend putting some on a fitted sheet used to cover the mattress where the potential bed bugs may be lurking. I don't intend putting any Permethrin on my sleeping bag or next my skin. Something with 1-2 % Permethrin would be fine and it would give me a bit of piece of mind if nothing else after that I don't intend worrying about bed bugs!!

 

[jirit]

My wife is reporting that she has mild case of bed bug bites

Given when she told me, I suspect she got them at either the albergue in puente la reina or in public youth hostel in estella, the latter being more likely.

She did stay in the private albergue in Torres del rio and Navarrete too, so there is a possible chance one of these places has bed bugs.

Has anybody seen or heard about bed bugs at any of these locations?

 

[WildPlace]

Hi there, sorry to hear about your wife's bites, we were ok in Torres del Rio but my friend has bed bug bites after staying at the private albergue in Ages two nights ago. I am ok so far but always use my own treated bug sheet and apply repellant before going to bed (I always have a severe reaction to insect bites so I try to avoid them).

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I would guess that the bedbugs are in all of those albergues, and many more. When they are in one, they are in places all down the line! Antihistamines can reduce reactions to the bites. Report the bites to the next albergue, and you may find yourself kicked out, so treat you equipment if you can so you don't spread them, but don't make a big deal out of it. If you know for sure what albergue has bedbugs, the hospitalero there would appreciate knowing about them.

 

[jirit]

I would guess that the bedbugs are in all of those albergues, and many more. When they are in one, they are in places all down the line! Antihistamines can reduce reactions to the bites. Report the bites to the next albergue, and you may find yourself kicked out, so treat you equipment if you can so you don't spread them, but don't make a big deal out of it. If you know for sure what albergue has bedbugs, the hospitalero there would appreciate knowing about them.

Probably very true.

She Is not the only person reporting bed bugs, seems that this fall there are more around in probably more albergues given the volume of people walking the route and the time of year.

She is soldiering on, trusting that a combination of dry cleaning her bag and clothes, spraying her pack and gear will keep them under control. So far she has not experienced any more bites since arriving in Burgos.

 

[JohnMcM]

My wife is reporting that she has mild case of bed bug bites

Given when she told me, I suspect she got them at either the albergue in puente la reina or in public youth hostel in estella, the latter being more likely.

She did stay in the private albergue in Torres del rio and Navarrete too, so there is a possible chance one of these places has bed bugs.

Has anybody seen or heard about bed bugs at any of these locations?

Oh no! Just when I had forgotten to worry about these little chaps (and chapesses, just to be politically correct), along comes this timely reminder. Now I have to re-read the many, many posts about them again. Alternatively, I could just carry on with my plan to wear a t-shirt to bed that says 'I do not taste nice, so don't bother biting me - thank you'.

 

[Bozzie]

Dear friends,
thanks for many replyes, I was already scared about this problem, but now is better, I hope that my only problem will be totaly tired, and I will not bring any unvanted travelers... now is time to set up my plans, and start looking for tickets and another "important" thinks...

Thank you and maybe we will meet us somewhere on the way.

Denis

Denis...
Just be sure to check your bed each time before use it. It is possible that this will not only give you peace of mind, but it could save you a lot of stress, hassle and discomfort if you are bitten! It is simple. Checking the bed and the surrounding baseboards and walls just takes a couple of minutes and is a smart thing to do. Bed bug activity is easy to see as they leave clues to their existence. Go online and google 'bed bugs' and numerous videos can be seen. Always check within a 5 ft radius, also. It's not about being paranoid, it's good sense! I bought a lightweight, synthetic clothes bag (with a drawstring, the kind of bag you'd put your dirty clothes in if in college!) and had it altered to fit my pack (to save on excess material) and had it double stitched for durability. I sprayed it well with permethrin. At night I kept my pack in it as well as when I traveled on the plane and any time my pack was not with me. Just be prepared and use common sense and you'll be fine! Oh, and don't use the blankets they have at the albergues...just saying
Buen Camino!
Bozzie
(aka Dee Anne from Dallas)

 

[billvinhage]

I just finished the CF on Sep 25, I was spared but MANY were not. Bedbugs are slive and well on the Camino.

 

[Bozzie]

Bed Bugs are a worry for me too but I cannot bring myself to wrap myself in toxic chemicals every night. Now while, if desperation sets in, I may resort to that I am not making it my default position. So.... after some online research I have made my own natural repellant. It won't kill them but I am hoping it will make me the least attractive pilgrim in a dorm full of bodies. Will let you know how it goes.

Hello, Pilgrim...
You should not spray permethrin on the inside of your sleeping bag...only the outside. I actually sprayed the outside and inside of my backpack because I kept everything in it in zip-lock plastic bags (this also helped with organization of my clothing & personal items). I also sprayed permethrin on the outside (only) of my boots...people forget that their boots are also with everyone elses and might get "bugged". As I said earlier, I kept my pack in a treated, altered, synthetic clothes bag that I also had treated with permethrin. And I checked my bed every night for telltale signs of bb's, as well as the walls and baseboards surrounding the bed (and checked the seams of the mattress all the way around!)
Buena Suerte y Buen Camino!

 

[santa666]

Dear Friends,

after doing my camino in April - May 2013 can I tell you only one think. Do not panik. I started in SJPP, so I did about 900 km of camino way, and I never saw one singe bug! As everybody, I meet many people, which meet people, which saw them, were bitten by them etc, etc, etc.... I saw only one municipale alberge, which was closed due to dezinfection because of bedbugs. I was checking every evening the bad and place arround, if there are any "trace", but I didnt find nothing, and after returning home, I just pack all the thinks in big black plastic bag with anti bugs sprey - and here we are, no problems.

Enjoy your way and Buen Camino!!!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I have never seen any "trace" of bedbugs in the places where I have found live bedbugs, so a mattress inspection does not come with any guarantees!

 

[jstorybook]

"Go not to the elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes.'" Gildor to Frodo

 

[santa666]

I have never seen any "trace" of bedbugs in the places where I have found live bedbugs, so a mattress inspection does not come with any guarantees!

yes, your 100 % right, not trying to tell, that if you will not found bugs in your bed, they are not there, just, that if you will found dead bugs bodies, or small blood (red, brown) dots, there is hight chance that you will became visit at night.

 

[santa666]

"Go not to the elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes.'" Gildor to Frodo

exactly, my advice is, keep to checking and be carefull, but do not be paranoid with every mosquito bite

 

[w cleveland]

We are in Astroga and not a night goes by where someone shows us a series of bed bug bites. They are real. We purchased a sheet and pillow case from a company in UK and have used them every night. I believe they are called a purple sheet. Well worth the extra weight.

 

[paul.ferris]

Tea tree oil is a safe natural bed bug repellent. Smells good and feels great on your skin. Also treats the foot infection that you might pick up in the shower. It is inexpensive and a little goes a long way and it works. It was recommended for use at a 'farmacia' on the Camino. I would be hesitant to use a neuro toxin like Permetherin no matter how safe it is currently believed to be.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

All-natural bedbug sprays have little bite
The Healthy Skeptic
Products such as Rest Easy and Bed Bug Bully claim to be highly effective at controlling the insects, but researchers say there aren't yet any consumer products proven to keep bedbugs away.
October 25, 2010|By Chris Woolston, Special to the Los Angeles Times

Bedbugs combine all of the bloodsucking annoyance of mosquitoes with the survival instinct of cockroaches. No bigger than apple seeds, the adult bugs hide in ingenious places — inside electrical outlets, behind baseboards, deep in carpet fibers — during the day and attack their victims during the night. You may never know that you have a bedbug problem until bites start showing up on your skin. Bedbugs don't spread any illnesses, but still. Ick.

The bugs are tough, they're devious and they're gaining new ground in homes and hotel rooms across the country, says Susan Jones, an entomologist at Ohio State University in Columbus. "They are the worst insects that we've ever had to deal with in an urban environment."

As worry about bedbugs grows, it's no surprise that many people are taking pest control into their own hands. Do-it-yourself exterminators can choose from many different sprays that claim to kill the bugs and prevent infestations.

Some products, like Rest Easy Bed Bug Spray, are sold as all-natural alternatives to traditional pesticides. Rest Easy, manufactured by the RMB Group, contains essential oils from cinnamon and lemon grass, among other ingredients. Bed Bug Bully, produced by a company called My Cleaning Products, claims to be 100% natural. The company website doesn't list any ingredients, but a sales manager reached by phone said that the spray ingredients include tea tree oil and lavender. The company didn't respond to a request for more information.

A 16-ounce spray bottle of Rest Easy — sold at many Walgreens, Ace Hardware and other stores — costs about $16. The company website instructs users to spray Rest Easy on "dressers drawers, closets, along baseboards, behind headboards, and around any other furniture you want treated." The site advises against spraying the bed directly. "If bed bugs are present in the bed," the site says, "call a professional for extermination."

A 32-ounce bottle of Bed Bug Bully, available at many drugstores, retails for about $50. A video tutorial on the company website encourages users to spray "wherever you think bedbugs may be."

If you want a little more punch in your spray, you might consider buying a product that contains an EPA-registered pesticide. Steri-Fab, a spray from Noble Pine Products, contains alcohol with a small amount of d-phenothrin, a common pesticide often found in flea and tick products. It's sold online — Amazon is one option — and at many professional cleaning supply outlets. On Amazon.com, a 1-gallon bottle sells for a little more than $40. According to the company site, a gallon is enough to cover eight to 10 pieces of upholstered furniture or six to seven mattress sets.

The claims

The Rest Easy website says that its "optimized blend of natural ingredients has been universally recognized for thousands of years as a means for controlling insects." In a phone interview, company President Howard Brenner said, "We are all-natural and highly effective." He also said that people who have a serious and obvious infestation should call an exterminator. "Our product is for people who think they might have bedbugs or are paranoid that they might get them."

The Bed Bug Bully site says the product is "by far the best bed bug treatment you can get on the market today." It also promises "the same results delivered by pest service without evacuation."

The Steri-Fab website says that, "unlike any other product available in the U.S. and the world," Steri-Fab kills bedbugs, fleas, ticks and lice along with bacteria and viruses. The site also says it "dries in 15-20 minutes and leaves no residue." The FAQ section explains that the product kills bugs on contact but becomes essentially inactive once it dries. In a phone interview, company Vice President Eric Bryan said his product "isn't a panacea" but does have a proven ability to kill bugs. "Those all-natural botanical products" are baloney, he added.

The bottom line

Gail Getty, a research entomologist at UC Berkeley, says she'd love to see a day when people could quickly solve their bedbug problems on their own. "I want to encourage new research. It would be great if there was something that was safe and effective."

Unfortunately, she says, no consumer products on the market today have been proved to completely remove bedbugs from the home. Because bedbugs are so adept at hiding, and because any bugs you can target with a spray are going to just be the tip of the infestation, it really takes a professional exterminator to get rid of the bugs, she says.

Jones, the Ohio State University entomologist, is especially leery of "all-natural" products. "If you think that using these sprays is going to get rid of your bedbugs, you are sorely mistaken." Jones points out that pesticide-free products such as Bed Bug Bully or Rest Easy aren't required by the Environmental Protection Agency to prove that they are actually effective against bugs — all that matters is that they are considered safe.

And while d-phenothrin, the pesticide in Steri-Fab, definitely has some killing power, Jones says many populations of bedbugs are developing a resistance to that chemical.

Jones adds that even professional exterminators armed with industrial-strength chemicals generally need several hours to clean out an infestation. "If somebody goes in and out in 15 minutes, you just wasted your money."

 

[Caplen]

All-natural bedbug sprays have little bite
The Healthy Skeptic
Products such as Rest Easy and Bed Bug Bully claim to be highly effective at controlling the insects, but researchers say there aren't yet any consumer products proven to keep bedbugs away.
October 25, 2010|By Chris Woolston, Special to the Los Angeles Times

Bedbugs combine all of the bloodsucking annoyance of mosquitoes with the survival instinct of cockroaches. No bigger than apple seeds, the adult bugs hide in ingenious places — inside electrical outlets, behind baseboards, deep in carpet fibers — during the day and attack their victims during the night. You may never know that you have a bedbug problem until bites start showing up on your skin. Bedbugs don't spread any illnesses, but still. Ick.

The bugs are tough, they're devious and they're gaining new ground in homes and hotel rooms across the country, says Susan Jones, an entomologist at Ohio State University in Columbus. "They are the worst insects that we've ever had to deal with in an urban environment."

As worry about bedbugs grows, it's no surprise that many people are taking pest control into their own hands. Do-it-yourself exterminators can choose from many different sprays that claim to kill the bugs and prevent infestations.

Some products, like Rest Easy Bed Bug Spray, are sold as all-natural alternatives to traditional pesticides. Rest Easy, manufactured by the RMB Group, contains essential oils from cinnamon and lemon grass, among other ingredients. Bed Bug Bully, produced by a company called My Cleaning Products, claims to be 100% natural. The company website doesn't list any ingredients, but a sales manager reached by phone said that the spray ingredients include tea tree oil and lavender. The company didn't respond to a request for more information.

A 16-ounce spray bottle of Rest Easy — sold at many Walgreens, Ace Hardware and other stores — costs about $16. The company website instructs users to spray Rest Easy on "dressers drawers, closets, along baseboards, behind headboards, and around any other furniture you want treated." The site advises against spraying the bed directly. "If bed bugs are present in the bed," the site says, "call a professional for extermination."

A 32-ounce bottle of Bed Bug Bully, available at many drugstores, retails for about $50. A video tutorial on the company website encourages users to spray "wherever you think bedbugs may be."

If you want a little more punch in your spray, you might consider buying a product that contains an EPA-registered pesticide. Steri-Fab, a spray from Noble Pine Products, contains alcohol with a small amount of d-phenothrin, a common pesticide often found in flea and tick products. It's sold online — Amazon is one option — and at many professional cleaning supply outlets. On Amazon.com, a 1-gallon bottle sells for a little more than $40. According to the company site, a gallon is enough to cover eight to 10 pieces of upholstered furniture or six to seven mattress sets.

The claims

The Rest Easy website says that its "optimized blend of natural ingredients has been universally recognized for thousands of years as a means for controlling insects." In a phone interview, company President Howard Brenner said, "We are all-natural and highly effective." He also said that people who have a serious and obvious infestation should call an exterminator. "Our product is for people who think they might have bedbugs or are paranoid that they might get them."

The Bed Bug Bully site says the product is "by far the best bed bug treatment you can get on the market today." It also promises "the same results delivered by pest service without evacuation."

The Steri-Fab website says that, "unlike any other product available in the U.S. and the world," Steri-Fab kills bedbugs, fleas, ticks and lice along with bacteria and viruses. The site also says it "dries in 15-20 minutes and leaves no residue." The FAQ section explains that the product kills bugs on contact but becomes essentially inactive once it dries. In a phone interview, company Vice President Eric Bryan said his product "isn't a panacea" but does have a proven ability to kill bugs. "Those all-natural botanical products" are baloney, he added.

The bottom line

Gail Getty, a research entomologist at UC Berkeley, says she'd love to see a day when people could quickly solve their bedbug problems on their own. "I want to encourage new research. It would be great if there was something that was safe and effective."

Unfortunately, she says, no consumer products on the market today have been proved to completely remove bedbugs from the home. Because bedbugs are so adept at hiding, and because any bugs you can target with a spray are going to just be the tip of the infestation, it really takes a professional exterminator to get rid of the bugs, she says.

Jones, the Ohio State University entomologist, is especially leery of "all-natural" products. "If you think that using these sprays is going to get rid of your bedbugs, you are sorely mistaken." Jones points out that pesticide-free products such as Bed Bug Bully or Rest Easy aren't required by the Environmental Protection Agency to prove that they are actually effective against bugs — all that matters is that they are considered safe.

And while d-phenothrin, the pesticide in Steri-Fab, definitely has some killing power, Jones says many populations of bedbugs are developing a resistance to that chemical.

Jones adds that even professional exterminators armed with industrial-strength chemicals generally need several hours to clean out an infestation. "If somebody goes in and out in 15 minutes, you just wasted your money."

Hmmm, the headline of that article doesn't exactly match the content of it. The article actually cautions against over-reliance on the effectiveness of any consumer remedies, including the chemical pesticide Steri-Fab. All the article is really saying is that serious infestations require professional extermination.

It's not saying that consumer products - natural or chemical - might not offer some degree of temporary repellent ability or peace of mind.

 

[HalfDomeOrBust]

Sitting here reading this thread about bed bugs and suddenly my arm gets itchy. Seems that my mind is messing with me....Sheesh.

 

[jirit]

Does anybody have any experience with using oil of oregano to ward off bed bugs ?

 

[JohnMcM]

Please, please,please, stop this. I'm trying to put these little critters out of my mind.

I know what someone will say; "don't read the thread." But hey! It's on the Forum and just has to be read.

 

[jirit]

The good news from my wife is that the bed bugs are not with her anymore, at least she is not carrying them, and she is not experiencing any more bites.

The medication seems to be working on bringing down the swellings too.

 

[santa666]

Does anybody have any experience with using oil of oregano to ward off bed bugs ?

when I reached Santiago, I wisit that big carrefour, and bought anti bed bug spray and spray all my stuff, and have no more problems, even I didnt have bedbugs, this was my bulletproof, that I will not bring them home. anyway, they wasnt there allmy way, so dont panic , just keep walking.

 

[Pieces]

mind the eggs...

 

[PANO]

i just ended my Camino a few days ago. Call it lucky but I had no prob at all, but some of my compañeros were hit badly 10 days ago at the municipal in Vllafranca. If it happens, go straight to the nearest clinic or assistencia medical and get yourself and your entire pack disinfected and your bites treated.
Good luck!

 

[vicrev]

Not the Bedbugzzz discussion ......again..........just type in bedbugs in the Search thingo.....there is more info about the Bugarzzzz than Wikipedia..............Vicrev

 

[vicrev]

My cousin(who is a shearer ) bought the little Bugerzzz back from a shearers shed once(unbeknown to us)we would wake up in the morning cover ed in bites,couldn't find any reason for the bites. We decided the next night we would wait a little while after we went to bed & he would jump out of bed ,turn the light on,pull my blankets back. We did that,it was an army on the march across my body...............Bedbugzzzzzz Yuck!.......sorry for making you all itchy........................Vicrev

 

[SYates]

http://bedbugger.com/ has some good information, especially about what helps and what doesn't help to prevent bites. The site deals mostly with bed bug infestation at home, but has also some good sections on 'bed bugs whilst traveling and how not to bring them home'. Buen Camino sin chinches, SY

 

[Old Hillwalker]

Hello everybody,

I found many discussions about this, but most of them was solved by Permethrin, but I can not find it in Europes stores. Is this problem really so hot on Camino Frances, or are there just few rare cases in concrete albergues? Thank you for answers and sharing your experiences. I will travel from SJPP in half of April.

I finished the Camino Frances on October 7th 2013 starting at St Jean PDP on September 6th. I carried a Permethrin impregnated fitted sheet and then one evening at an Albergue which I thought was clean and nice neglected to use the sheet. The little buggers got me at least twenty times that night and got into my kit. It was at least a week before I got to a place with a clothes dryer that was hot enough to kill them. While enroute I saw several people who were severely bitten to the extent of several dozens of bite welts on their legs alone. We heard of one Pilgrim who had to be hospitalized due to severe allergic reaction to multiple bites. They are definitely there and Permethrin does the trick.

 

[vicrev]

Don,t want to bore everybody,but,the little Bugarzzzz LOVE beds & bunks made out of timber...they lay in wait in the joints for their next meal........we had to burn all our beds & slept on the floor for weeks.................Vicrev

 

[fortview]

Have had the really bad luck to get bed bugs on my very last night in Santiago! Stayed in a hotel to be near the airport, which was perfectly clean, but made the stupid error of resting my back pack on the end of the bed. In the middle of the night I actually felt something biting me and leapt out of bed, pulled back the sheets and there was the bug which was duly dispatched.
So had to travel early the next morning, unable to take any action, really worried about spreading bugs on our journey. Hopefully it was just the one. Took no risks when we got home- just dumped everything in the shed including all our clothes and jumped in the shower! Thinking about putting everything in the freezer for a few days. Have got horrible itchy bites on my fingers and arms and am taking anti allergy pills. This was a truly horrible way to end the camino!