HEADLINES warning holidaymakers of a plague of blood-sucking bed bugs in hotels across Spain appeared in British tabloids this weekend.
The reports claimed that popular tourist destinations such as the Costa Blanca, Balearic and Canary Islands have been infested with the insects, putting holidaymakers at risk.
But is this true or just another horror story? The Olive Press took on the case to find out the truth.
We called the Spanish Environmental Health Association and asked for their opinion.
Jorge Galvan, Director of ANECPLA, confirmed that this year has been a particularly bad year for bed bugs, but explained that this is a global problem and not just a Spanish one.
“The increase in bed bugs does not only affect Spain, but all countries,” he said.
“The main reason why there are more bed bugs is climate change and rising temperatures,” he added.
In fact, he warned that tourists themselves could be the problem, as they transport the bugs across borders in their clothing and luggage.
“It is quite possible that there are more bed bugs in the UK than in Spain and that they are brought into the hotels by the guests themselves,” he said.
The olive press also called a hotel association in Alicante to ask if reports of bed bugs were worse than usual this year?
“This information is completely false, we have not received any reports of bed bugs in any of the hotels in Alicante,” a spokesman said.
“It’s the first time I’ve heard about bed bugs this year,” they said.
Likewise, the Spanish Ministry of Health has not issued any warnings regarding bed bugs in hotels across Spain.
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