The Battle of the Bugs

The battle lines are drawn and we are finally taking taking the offense. We had been aware of apparent bedbugs in the apartment from our brief stay last spring and the management agreed to at least thoroughly clean the premises and spray but there also seemed some uncertainty as to what might be available beyond that. Not long after returning it became apparent this would not be enough and we went to the internet to find professional pest control facilities in Kathmandu. In addition we were able to capture several of the little beasties and preserve them between pieces of scotch tape for confirmation. With this evidence as well as the somewhat characteristic bites the hospital administration was mobilized and went with us to see the professionals of extermination.

Yesterday they came and fumigated the entire 4-plex and locked the main door for 24 hours. They are supposed to open it for a 4 hour airing this afternoon and hopefully we will be back in this evening. I say hopefully since this morning no one seems to know where the key is to the main door and the lock may have to be removed. This is the first time in our 14 years in Asia we have had bedbugs and I can certainly tell you I hope it will be the last. The creatures do not carry disease but the bite incites a severe allergic response with intense itching which tends to last a week to ten days. Two or three bites can be a major distraction and this led to a serendipitous finding. Seeking some kind of counter irritant therapy I tried Vics with little effect and then thought while in the shower to try heat followed by cold on my arm. After a few minutes of water as hot as I could tolerate on the area of my arm affected I then switched to cold and afterwards the relief was substantial and fairly long lasting. Lora tried the same with significant relief as well. We aren't ready to write this one up but it did seem to work and the heat seemed the primary agent.

Assuming we get into our apartment later today we will also run the clothes all through the dryer. This actually is a recognized treatment and other things such as suitcases will be put in the non-ventilated laundry room and subjected to a pesticide fogger. Hopefully the battle will be turning in our favor by the end of the weekend but the pest control people will come back in a week to 10 days and give a second treatment trying for a "clean sweep". Stay tuned and don't scratch.

Carlyle