BRITS have been given an urgent warning as a UK holiday island has been hit by a "major" bed bug infestation.
The blood-thirsty critters are rapidly spreading across the country and have now hit Jersey.
Pest experts issued a major alert after reporting an unprecedented number of bedbugs in the island.
Absolute Pest Control expert Frank Raimbault said he spotted more bedbugs in the past five months “than the past five years”.
Mr Raimbault told Jersey Evening Post: “People are spreading them in bigger rates than before.
“They do their best [to get rid of them] but generally it is advisable to get a professional service in."
The silent invaders are believed to have arrived to the UK from France – where they infested public transport, cafes, hotels, cinemas and homes.
Dozens of London commuters were left in panic and refused to sit down after spotting the small insects crawling on public transport.
Mr Raimbault added: “I was in London recently on the tube and there were far more people standing up than usual.”
Nick Alderson from Pestokill, claimed the “major” increase in bedbugs is due to the warm temperatures.
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He said: “They can stay dormant for a year and as soon as the temperature comes up they come out and multiply."
Public health officials in Guernsey are now urging islanders to be on the lookout for the small insects – which often live on furniture and bedding.
Experts advised people to report any sightings early to pest professionals to fully eradicate them.
Mr Alderson added: “It depends on how large the infestation is, as most of our clients call us and nip it in the bud early on.”
Hoteliers are now worried the blood-sucking insects might enter hotels.
As a result, they have taken strict preventative hygiene measures to stop the spread.
Jersey Hospitality Association co-chief Marcus Calvani said: “Although we’ve been watching this story develop in France and the UK, it’s not been raised as an issue by any of our members that provide guest accommodation.
"Naturally, we are hopeful that it’s limited to the locations being reported.
"But, as is the case in most destinations, standards of hygiene and cleanliness are taken extremely seriously by our members, who follow best-practice guidelines to ensure stays by visitors are memorable for the right reasons.”
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It comes as a holidaymaker was eaten alive by bedbugs as she was left covered in more than 100 painful itchy bites.
Natalie Brown, 28, told how her Benidorm holiday turned into a nightmare when she was viciously attacked by the bloodsuckers.
Do I have bedbugs?
Signs of bedbugs include:
- Bites – often on skin exposed while sleeping, like the face, neck and arms
- Spots of blood on your bedding – from the bites or from squashing a bedbug
- Small brown spots on bedding or furniture (bedbug poo)
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