Icky: Too Skittish For Puns About The Bedbug Scourge

It's official, the bedbugs have arrived in Seattle, which means that it is time to become vigilant if you wanted to avoid an infestation in your home. The most pernicious thing about bedbugs is that they don't discriminate, they could be found anywhere. Not only is a first class hotel just as likely to be infested as a motel with hourly rates, bedbugs may take up residence in a handy couch or seat while waiting for the next victim to ride on.

It's also important not to assume you're not susceptible. Joseph W, a former Seattle-ite who survived the recent bedbug scare in NYC, relates that the size of the outbreak was fueled by people who were adamant they weren't infested only to find their homes crawling with the lousy creatures. "People forget that they can't feel the effects of the bedbugs if they're not allergic," says Joseph W. "Most aren't."

For those who are allergic to the fabled bite of the bedbug, the symptoms are not unlike the onset of a quickly spreading rash. Those who are not allergic are advised to check their furniture, especially their beds, for telltale signs of the parasites. The site linked also contains some great advice for avoiding infestation using inexpensive measures; inexpensive compared to the cost of hiring exterminators to handle the problem, should it arise. Also, a simple search on Google Images will provide some creepy but helpful visual guides.

The most basic this to do, at home or if you're staying at a hotel, is to check under the bed sheet -- bedbugs will either leave behind streaks of blood after getting pressed (think mosquitoes), or will leave behind their skin sheddings. Another handy precaution, if you're traveling, is storing your luggage in the bathtub while you're not using it.

Seattle is only part of a nationwide trend in increasing reports of bedbug activity; according to the KOMO News story, the top five cities in the US with increased reports of bedbugs are Myrtle Beach, SC; Las Vegas, NV; Chicago, IL; San Francisco, CA; and NYC, NY.

So, maybe it would be wise to avoid going to those places. Maybe you should just avoid fun altogether and not leave the house until this blows over. It's an option.

Or, you could watch this video, which will make you feel...better?