Bed Bug: Federal Govt Steps Up Surveillance At Entry Points

Federal government has heightened surveillance at all points of entry in the country following the outbreak of bed bug infestation in France and other parts of Europe.

The coordinating minister of health and social welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja, expressed the ministry’s commitment to ensuring that appropriate public measures and responses are put in place.

He said the ministry has developed a draft sheet, which will be in circulation soon to strengthen awareness and health education on the control of bed bugs, while urging the public to cooperate with Port Health Officers at points of entry in the course of their surveillance activities.

Bed bugs are small, flat reddish-brown wingless insects that infest beds, sofas, luggage’s and other furniture. They often crawl onto people’s bodies or luggage to travel to new surroundings.

While they are not known to cause any illness, their bites cause discomfort, itching, anxiety, sleep disturbances, depression and allergies.