A primary care physician in Virginia has taken to TikTok to share a travel tip that includes creepy crawlies that might make you rethink unpacking your bags right away.
The video posted by Dr. Jason Singh of Loudoun County, Virginia, has garnered more than 750,000 views after sharing a PSA about bed bugs and your luggage.
“Here’s why you shouldn’t unpack your suitcase right after you get home from vacation,” Singh said on TikTok. “Okay, so you hear me, especially if you’ve stayed in a hotel. And that’s because of the bedbugs.”
“The eggs of bedbugs usually hatch within six to 10 days, and the nymphs require a blood meal immediately after hatching to continue their development,” he added.
Singh said he decided to post this video after he realized that not many travelers were knowledgeable about tick exposure.
It was one of his patient’s cases that made him realize it was worth educating others about this possible bed bug infestation.
“[I was] just amazed at how persistent and disturbing their reaction to bedbugs was, even weeks after returning from their trip. It made me realize that many travelers may not be aware of the potential long-term consequences of bug exposure,” Singh told Fox News Digital via email.
He realized he needed to fill the gap “in public knowledge about effective prevention strategies.”
On TikTok, Singh went on to describe why bed bugs should stay away from face exposure.
“Now, if your suitcase sits sealed and undisturbed for at least two weeks, well, any bedbug eggs or nymphs present will likely die of starvation or desiccation, so now you have a reason to be lazy, just like me,” he said. in his video.
“And just leave your suitcase hanging over there. I mean, let’s be honest. What kind of psycho immediately unpacks? Let me know.”
The comments section on Singh’s TikTok video was filled with comments from other social media users about their packing habits.
“I unpack and throw everything in the washer as soon as I get home. I need all the things I travel with,” wrote one user.
“Who has two extra weeks of clothes they don’t need when they get back from vacation! Or I’m a peasant and I only have a week or two of clothes in total,” another person commented.
Eric Braun, a board-certified entomologist in Reading, Pennsylvania, shared his thoughts on tick prevention and what to do if you spot one in your luggage.
“If a bed bug problem is a significant concern for the traveler, another helpful tip is to not store personal items and clothing inside hotel drawers, along the floor, or next to hotel furniture. When I travel, I put my suitcase in the bathroom, especially in the shower/tub, as it can be difficult for bed bugs to get into those areas,” Braun told Fox News Digital via email.
Braun advised travelers not to bring a suspected infected suitcase into a living space, but to keep it outside the home before putting the clothes in a garbage bag and immediately in a laundry room.
“Remember that, at the right temperatures, bedbugs can live for several months without feeding, so don’t assume that suitcases that haven’t been used in a few months are bug-free,” Braun said.
“If suitcases must be stored in living quarters, such as under beds, place them in garbage bags and seal the bag with tape. Suitcases can be treated with over-the-counter products labeled for that application,” he added.
What to do if you bring bed bugs home from vacation
Braun shared tips and actions to take if you believe you’ve found bedbugs in your luggage.
“If a bed bug is spotted, there are some immediate actions the traveler should take to avoid further spread. Anything that can be washed can be put right in the dryer at a high temperature,” Braun said.
“Before washing, put personal items that can be washed immediately in the dryer. High heat (at least 1300 F+) can kill bed bugs and their eggs.”
Braun said if you have clothes that can’t be thrown in the dryer right away, you should put the clothes in a sealed bag or container and place them outside of your home and away from any potential entry points.
Ben Hottel, a Georgia-based technical service manager at Orkin, shared some insight on how to best handle your luggage if it’s infested with bedbugs.
Hottel agreed with Braun, stating that it’s best to immediately unpack the bag outside the house and throw your clothes in the dryer on the highest setting for a minimum of 30-45 minutes.
“Recently hatched nymphs can live up to a month without a blood meal. Older bed bugs that may also be in the suitcase can live a lot longer – maybe up to a year… It’s best to wash clothes right away as the high heat setting acts as a heat treatment,” Hottel told Fox News Digital.
Hottel said people should call a pest control company if they believe there is a bed bug infestation inside their home.
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