Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, Sunday News Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has identified facilities that are prone to infestations of bed bugs, commonly known as insikizi or tsikidzi.
The identified facilities include college dormitories, child day care centres, nursing homes, schools and old office buildings.
Last month, a bed bug outbreak was reported in Mpopoma suburb, prompting BCC to take action to prevent a city-wide infestation. Affected homes were ordered to be fumigated with a charge of US$45 per household.
However, residents said the fee was unaffordable and feared it could lead to worsening infestations and increased health risks.
According to the latest council minutes, short-stay rental facilities such as hotels and motels, along with hospitals, educational institutions and day care centres, provide conducive environments for bed bug infestations.
“Bed bugs infest areas when someone unknowingly brings them in. They feed on the blood of mammals, typically humans. They are drawn to places where people spend a lot of time and seek out hiding spots in such environments,” said the council.
“Bed bugs can hide almost anywhere people gather, including homes, hotels, schools, office buildings, shops and public transport. Eradicating them can be quite challenging.”
The council noted that bed bugs often hide under furniture and mattresses.
“They burrow into upholstery and stuffing, lying in wait for a host to bite. Being roughly the size of an apple seed, bed bugs can also conceal themselves in tiny crevices,” read the minutes.
“It’s important to inspect furniture and personal belongings thoroughly to eliminate bed bugs or their eggs before bringing them into your home.”
The council has since advised residents staying in hotels and motels to inspect rooms carefully for small, brownish-red insects, and to place their luggage and clothing on hard surfaces such as desks or tables, rather than on beds or upholstered furniture.
“Bed bugs can hide in suitcases and backpacks. Once they arrive at a new location, they look for a hiding place and wait to bite a human being or other mammal,” said the council.
BCC added that bed bugs move by crawling, and their small size allows them to spread through rooms undetected.
“Newly hatched bed bugs are so small they can squeeze through a stitch in a bedsheet’s hem. A single bed bug can lay up to five eggs a day. They can survive for up to a year and often spread by hitchhiking on people’s clothing or belongings,” said the council.
It also warned that bed bugs can develop resistance to certain pesticides. However, some chemical treatments remain effective.
“Pyrethrins and pyrethroids are the most commonly used pesticides for bed bugs, though they are not always effective. It’s recommended to use products with additional ingredients, such as desiccants like boric acid, which kill the insects by drying them out,” it said.
“Neem oil is also used, it suffocates the insects and prevents them from feeding.”
