A passenger who travelled by a low-cost airline has turned to Facebook to complain of bed bugs on flight.
Singapore woman complains of bed bug bites on flight
On 12 August, Facebook user Jiamin Han, highlighted the incident on Scoot airline's Facebook page. Apparently, she had previously complained through private messages on Facebook, but hadn't received a response.
She wrote, "I took flights TR-2062 and TR-2069 on Tuesday 8 August from Singapore to Hong Kong and back. After I touched down, I noticed my arms and back had a cluster of bed bug bites. As it was a day trip to HK, these bites could not have come from anywhere apart from the plane."
This wasn't the first time she had flown with Scoot; she also brought to notice a similar complaint by another passenger that was also ignored by the airline.
Finally she writes, "What's even more appalling is your careless attitude to what appears to be a serious issue which concerns the health of passengers onboard your planes.
Scoot responds to the allegations
Scoot, it seems, has taken the allegations rather seriously, and a Scoot spokesman has been quoted by The Straits Times as saying, "We regularly clean and disinfect our seats to ensure a pleasant and clean cabin experience for our guests."
"Regardless, we take this seriously and are currently investigating after having gotten in touch with the guest for more details."
He also clarified that the previously reported case had already been investigated, and there were no bed bugs on the plane.
Apart from that, Scoot has also replied to the woman on the Facebook page and requested that she message the airline with her booking reference number.
What you need to know about bed bug bites
This writer has been bitten by bed bugs and let me tell you, it wasn't a pleasant experience. It took days to get rid of the itch!
For the info, bedbugs are small, flat, reddish-brown parasites that usually reside and thrive in and around beds, and crevices in chairs and couches. They feed on blood, and usually attack when the prey is asleep.
Bites tend to occur on exposed areas of the body, such as the neck, face, feet, and arms. It's no secret that bed bug bites are often very itchy, and the burning sensation on the skin may linger long after you’ve been bitten.
Bed bug bites look like little red bumps (similar to mosquito bites), and can occur in a zig-zag or line formation on the body.
The good news is that bed bugs are not known to transmit any disease. However, if you have sensitive skin, and are prone to itching and scratching, the bites may cause a severe allergic reaction, like engorged bite marks, painful swelling and burning at the bite site, and in rare cases, an anaphylactic response.
Preventing bed bug bites
- Bed bug infestation is a common problem all over the world, and families travelling with young children should especially be wary of these tiny insects in hotel rooms.
When checking into hotel rooms, it is advisable to pull back sheets to look for little spots of blood on mattresses, or remove the sheets and look on and under the mattress.
- Keep your home uncluttered so bedbugs won't have places to hide.
- At home, change bedsheets once a week and vacuum floors regularly.
- If you find bedbugs, wash all bedding, clothing, stuffed animals, etc., in hot water and dry on a hot setting.
- Be careful when you buy used clothing or furniture. Always inspect them for bedbugs.
Treatment for bed bug bites
Medical treatment usually involves relieving the symptoms (like itching) caused by bedbug bites. In the rare cases of a systemic allergic reaction or a secondary skin infection, evaluation by a health care professional may be necessary.
- Bedbugs travel back home with you in bags and clothes, so if you come to know that you or your child has been to a bedbug infested place, wash your clothes with hot water as soon as you return home.
Also, put it in a sealed plastic bag until you can wash it.
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In case of bed bug bites, it is important to keep the area clean. Wash the bites with soap and water.
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Fight the itch. Calamine lotion, an anti-itch cream, or cool compresses can help with the itching. In some cases, antihistamine pills or creams can ease the itching. Bites usually clear up in 1-2 weeks.
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The drier your skin, the more itchy it will be. So keep it well moisturised. Drink lots of water. Make sure to lather on a moisturiser (preferably fragrance-free) after a bath or shower.
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It is advised not to scratch a bedbug bite (especially kids), because doing so can cause a secondary skin bacterial infection. If an infection does happen, a doctor may have to prescribe antibiotics to treat it.
Also READ: Singapore mum horrified to see baby's bug bite grow bigger and BIGGER!
(Source: The Straits Times)