The Deathly Bed Bug-Related Hazard That International Tourists Should Be Aware Of

There is no winning with bed bugs. They can appear on any mattress, at any hotel (even the expensive ones), and bite you when you least expect it. They're often microscopic, and signs of their presence are difficult to detect. Even after you've fled an infested hotel, the bed bugs can travel on your clothes or shoes, affecting every part of your trip. Despite precautions, though, you may bring them home, where they will colonize your own bedroom. If you do find bed bugs in your hotel room, you can wrap your clothes in plastic and dry clean them, of course. But the moment these creatures arrive in your house, you'll probably have to call an exterminator. 

Tragically, this decision turned fatal in February 2025, when two tourists in Sri Lanka apparently died from pesticide poisoning, (via CNN). Ebony McIntosh, a U.K. national, was only 24 when she fell mysteriously ill. Her friend, Nadine Raguse, from Germany, was 26. They had both been staying in a hostel in the capital city of Colombo, where there had reportedly been an outbreak of bed bugs. After a fumigation session, the two women, along with several other guests, became violently ill and passed away at a local hospital.

Many travelers tend to think of hotels as a "safe space," but it's wise to remember that even a hotel room comes with its own risks. In general, there are a few safety tips that can help prevent bad encounters, especially in dodgy accommodations. But the issue of pest control raises its own special concerns.

Pesticides are a controversial topic around the world. On the one hand, many people will do anything to eradicate pests, be they insects, arachnids, rodents, or reptiles. Mosquitoes can spread debilitating viruses like chikungunya and dengue. Malaria alone leads to 400,000 human deaths each year. Bed bugs aren't venomous, and they don't carry diseases, but their bites can cause itchiness for days, and some victims experience allergic reactions. Plus, infestations are notoriously hard to get rid of. This is enough to ruin a vacation, and tourists and hoteliers alike would love to rid themselves of the six-legged scourge.

Still, pesticides are toxic by nature, and it's difficult to produce a chemical that is both lethal to pests and harmless to humans. In places where regulations and precautions are patchy, there's more potential for dangerous contamination. In 2012, Canadian sisters Audrey and Noémi Bélanger died on a trip to Thailand under similar circumstances (via CBC). They were reportedly staying in a room next to a fumigated area — where bed bugs were being targeted — and died of exposure to the chemicals. The threat isn't limited to developing nations, of course. The U.S. is considered fairly laissez-faire about pesticide use, permitting scores of chemicals that are illegal elsewhere.

Pesticide-related deaths are rare among travelers. Your best line of defense is to ask the hotel whether a fumigation has been scheduled during your stay. If you see an unannounced fumigator (who will likely be obviously dressed in protective gear), vacate the premises for a few hours and take essential belongings with you. Better safe than sorry. Poison gases aside, here are some other ways to avoid getting sick while traveling.