Speaking following reports of a surge in cases of people being bitten by bedbugs, principally in the Lisbon area and in accommodation used for local lodgings, the deputy-director general of health, Graça Freitas, said that bedbugs have “always been around”.
“Sometimes there are more of them, other times less,” she said, on the sidelines of a visit to a school in Lisbon to promote the launch of a campaign for the national vaccination programme.
However, she did urge anyone detecting them to follow cleaning instructions.
Newspaper i reported over the past weekend that the national health board (DGS) has recently taken note of various cases involving bedbugs in houses in Lisbon, mainly in properties being used for local short-term lettings.
Graça Freitas said those cases are in the process of being resolved by pest control companies.
“Our advice is that in housing where this occurs a professional company should be brought in for a thorough disinfestation, and then follow the advice of that company with regards to hygiene, cleaning and aeration”, she stressed.
She assured the public “there is no risk to public health” as bedbugs have no negative impact on health.
“It’s not pleasant, it’s not a good indication of hygiene”, she said, but reiterated this “is not a new situation. When there is a greater movement of people, more cases come to light.”