Doctor reveals unsettling reason you should wait to unpack your suitcase after traveling
A primary care physician in Virginia has taken to TikTok to share a travel tip involving creepy crawlers 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 he shared a PSA about bed bugs and your luggage.
“Here’s why you shouldn’t unpack your suitcase right after coming home from a vacation,” Singh said on TikTok. “OK, so you hear me out, especially if you stayed in a hotel. And that’s because of bedbugs.”
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“Bed bug eggs typically hatch within six to 10 days, and the nymphs require a blood meal shortly after hatching to continue their development,” he added.
Singh said he decided to post this video after realizing that not many travelers had knowledge about bed bug exposure.
It was one of his patient’s cases that made him realize this possible bed bug infestation was worth educating others about.
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“[I was] just struck by how persistent and distressing their bed bug reaction was, even weeks after returning from their trip. It made me realize that many travelers might not be aware of the potential long-term consequences of bed 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 continued to describe the reasoning behind why bed bugs need to stay packed away and face exposure.
“Now, if your suitcase remains closed and undisturbed for at least two weeks, well, any bedbug egg or nymph present will likely die due to starvation or desiccation, so now you have a reason to be lazy, just like me,” he said in his video.
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“And just let your suitcase hang there in the side. I mean, let’s be honest. What kind of psycho unpacks right away? Let me know.”
The comment section of Singh’s TikTok video was filled with other social media users talking about their unpacking habits.
“I unpack & throw everything in the washer as soon as I get home. I need all my stuff I travel with,” one user wrote.
“Who has two extra weeks of clothes that they don’t need when they get back from holiday! Or am I just a peasant and only have a week or two of clothes in total,” another person commented.
Eric Braun, a board-certified entomologist in Reading, Pennsylvania, shared his own thoughts on bed bug prevention and what to do if you spot something in your luggage.
“If a bed bug problem is a significant concern for the traveler, another helpful tip is not to store personal items and clothing inside hotel drawers, along the floor, or near hotel furniture. While I travel, I place my suitcase in the bathroom, specifically the shower/tub, as it can be difficult for bed bugs to access those areas,” Braun told Fox News Digital via email.
Braun advised travelers not to bring an assumed infested suitcase into a living space, but rather outside the home before placing the clothes in a trash bag and immediately into a laundry room.
“Remember that, in the right temperatures, bed bugs can live several months without being fed, so don’t assume that suitcases that haven’t been used in a few months are bed bug-free,” Braun said.
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“If suitcases must be stored in living spaces, such as under beds, put them in trash bags first, and tape the bag shut. Suitcases can be treated with over-the-counter products labeled for that application,” he added.
Braun shared tips and actions to take if you believe you found bed bugs 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 laundered can be immediately placed in the dryer at a high-temperature setting,” Braun said.
“Place personal belongings that can be laundered immediately in the dryer before washing. High heat (at least 1,300 F+) can kill bed bugs and their eggs.”
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Braun said that if you have clothes that cannot immediately be thrown into the dryer, you should place the apparel in a closed bag or sealed container and place it outside your home and away from any possible entry points.
Ben Hottel, a Georgia-based technical service manager at Orkin, shared some insights on how best to treat your luggage if it’s infested with bed bugs.
Hottel agreed with Braun, stating that it is best to immediately unpack your bag outside the home and throw your clothes into the dryer at the highest sitting for a minimum of 30-45 minutes.
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“Recently hatched nymphs can live up to a month without a blood meal. Older bed bugs that might also be in the suitcase can live much longer – maybe even up to a year … it’s best to do laundry immediately as the high temperature setting acts as a heat treatment,” Hottel told Fox News Digital.
Hottel advised people to call a pest control company if they believe there’s a bed bug infestation inside their home.