There are numerous questions surrounding the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) about how the virus is spread. Fear and hysteria is growing around the world, so we feel it’s important to stick together, and provide credible information.
With the warm weather approaching, many are nervous about the disease transmission with insects. Specifically, we’ll talk about COVID-19 and bed bugs, whether bed bugs can carry this disease, what effective treatments are, and how to protect your home in general.
Can Bed Bugs Spread the Coronavirus?
It’s normal to think that if bed bugs do bite humans there is potential to transfer disease and infection from the location of the bite. If mosquitos can carry diseases like the West Nile virus, can bed bugs carry the Coronavirus and transfer it through bites? While bed bugs can carry bacteria, and can sometimes cause physical injury, there is no evidence that they spread infectious diseases to humans.
It’s also important to understand that other insects, bugs that are often mistaken for bed bugs, such as “vector pests” are not likely to give you Coronavirus either.
Heat Treatments for Germs & Diseases
Many people are aware that boiling water is a common method of sanitizing items and killing germs. When utilizing a heat treatment, this is not only an application for bed bugs, but also killing the Coronavirus and other potential illnesses. Applying heat at a precise temperature with specialized equipment can be successful.
Heating a home to 140 degrees Fahrenheit and leaving it at that temperature for several hours will kill the Coronavirus and other germs. Therefore, a bed bug treatment at these temperatures will also kill and eliminate Coronavirus and other germs/illnesses from the surfaces of your home, keep in mind that this is one of many bed bug treatments.
Protecting Your Home
It’s important to take the necessary steps to protect yourselves and your loved ones from bed bugs, Coronavirus, and other things that can spread easily and cause pain and suffering. Don’t necessarily be under the assumption that these things go away on their own, but rather take the necessary preventive measures so you won’t have to suffer in the first place.
In order to protect your home, it’s first important to look for signs that an infection or infestation has occurred. For bed bugs, look for common signs of an infestation, for infections see if the people around you are experiencing symptoms.
In order to protect your home from the Coronavirus do the following things:
- Wash hands often (at least 20 seconds according to the CDC)
- Disinfect surfaces multiple times a day
- Avoid large gatherings when possible and stay at home as much as you can
If you do notice any symptoms of CVOID-19, such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath, it’s important to call your doctor or go to your nearest hospital. This way your healthcare provider can take the necessary steps to help you and also prevent others from getting sick.
