Talk of the town : BedbugS — The head-Scratching invaders
【明報專訊】Seoul, London and Paris are popular cities for Hong Kong people to travel to. Recently, these cities have been plagued by bedbugs. Not only do bedbugs make people scratch their skin, but also governments around the world have been left scratching their heads over how to combat bedbug infestations.
An online photo has been posted on a social platform showing a suspected bedbug on the Airport Express. The MTR Corporation inspected and cleaned their train compartments at a high temperature after the photo went viral online.
What are bedbugs?
Bedbugs are small, parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals. They are typically reddish-brown and have flat, oval-shaped bodies, which allow them to hide easily in cracks and crevices.
Bedbugs are primarily active at night when they come out to feed on sleeping individuals. Their bites can cause skin irritation, itching, and allergic reactions on some people. Bedbugs are known for their ability to infest homes, hotels, and other places where humans reside, often hitching a ride on luggage, clothing or furniture. An adult female bedbug can start an infestation alone by laying 0.64 eggs per day on average, with the bedbug population doubling in size around every 13 days.
How to control bedbugs?
Experts advise that people should clean their houses regularly, especially by washing their bedding, linens and clothing in hot water and drying them on high heat, as bedbugs cannot survive in high temperatures. If you suspect a bedbug infestation or have difficulty controlling bedbugs on your own, it is advisable to seek professional pest control services. They have the expertise and tools to eliminate bed bugs effectively.
Due to serious bedbug infestations in their travel destinations, some Hong Kong people have cancelled their trips to Seoul and other affected places to avoid bringing them back to Hong Kong. The government has also begun giving arriving airport passengers warning leaflets about bedbug transmission and prevention.
■Gear up
Bedbugs can survive in high temperatures.
(True / False)
(Answer on next text)
■Grammar Booster
scratch someone's head
"Scratch someone's head" is an idiom, which means to think hard about something.
E.g. The managers have been scratching their heads over how to boost the productivity of their workers.
■Glossary
infestation (n) 侵擾
inspect (v) 檢查
crevice (n) 裂縫
allergic (adj) 過敏的
(Criticisms on this publication, if any, are aimed at pointing out the errors or defects of certain systems or policies with a view to rectifying or eradicating such errors or defects, as well as prompting improvement or remedy for them via lawful means. There is absolutely no intention of inciting hatred, discontent or hostility towards the government or other classes of the community.)
[Smarties' Power English 第393期]
