Preventing bed bug bites on the Way of St. James

Let's be clear. You may very well never see any during your pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, even if you walk 2000 km... and this will certainly be the case. There's no need to panic beforehand.
However, their presence was very strongly attested on the paths in 2009 and 2010 (and therefore every year since), irregularly, even in 2024. (See the comments at the end of the article).
At the time (2009), a few accommodations suffered the consequences (a heavy and costly treatment or worse, the obligation to replace all the bedding). What didn't help was that, on the one hand, some guesthouses only realized it when the premises were quite infested, and on the other hand, they were slow to warn the guesthouses downstream. In addition, pilgrims were often ignorant of the very existence of bed bugs. Thus, for several days, passing pilgrims unwittingly served as anonymous "carriers".
But today, no accommodation is unaware of the creature. In fact, the spread seems to have stabilized, or even decreased in some places. Prevention through appropriate treatment and everyone's vigilance remains the best ways to avoid the spread. That is the reason for this article.

However, it's important to note that the presence of bed bugs has nothing to do with the hygiene of the place (meaning that bed bugs are not there because the place might be dirty - it's a contamination by colonization of a specimen brought to the place).

How to recognize them?

Brown in color, an adult bed bug measures between 4 and 7 mm, with a slightly flattened body. In other words, you won't be able to miss it if it comes out of its hiding place, especially since it doesn't move very fast - the problem is that it only comes out at night.... You can suspect their presence if you notice small black dots on the bedding (feces). Nymphs (babies) are rather translucent.

The same cannot be said for the eggs, which are only one millimeter long (white in color). It takes 6 weeks for complete development (from egg to adult stage). So you could very well be carrying eggs in (or on) your backpack without realizing it for several days, and unwittingly contributing to the spread.

During the day, it hides in dark places such as mattresses, blankets, and of course, in backpacks placed near a contaminated area. It bites mostly at night, while you are asleep. The bite can be confused (for the average person) with a mosquito bite, or a flea bite (but more severe...). It is very rare to have only one bite. Most of the time, you will notice bites in a straight line. Like mosquitoes, bed bugs feed on blood. To be precise, bed bugs don't sting, they bite!

The skin reaction depends (as with mosquitoes) on the individual. The bite can cause local inflammation with severe itching (which can lead to a secondary infection if scratched) or a whitish edema that may bleed. Some people who have been bitten severely or are particularly allergic have had to seek medical attention urgently.

There is no need to be overly alarmed. As we indicated above, the problem is known and often treated "chemically". All you have to do is pay attention to your resting place by inspecting the bedding a little, and by avoiding putting your bag on the bed, and this all along the way. For those who wish, it is always possible to get a suitable insecticide (or a good garbage bag in which you will enclose your bag at night).

A "Clako punaises" spray (natural insecticide) is available for purchase in various locations in France, including the tourist office of Le Puy-en-Velay
The web site Clako Punaises

You can also find another product in pharmacies. See the ABATOUT company website

We would also like to reproduce below, with her permission, the testimony of Mrs. Hennebois, owner of the bed and breakfast "Au Chien Pèlerin" in Sainte-Mère, Gers. This article was published in the November 2010 edition of the french webzine "Les Zoreilles du Chemin". 😊

"I have been welcoming pilgrims since April 2006 and have never had any bed bug issues in my three guest rooms and dormitory. I am outraged by the repeated calls from certain companies that harass hosts to buy their products and convince pilgrims that only the hosts listed on their site are guaranteed to be bed bug-free... Of course, to be on this list, you have to buy the products in question... Some hosts end up being afraid to welcome pilgrims into their homes! However, I can assure you that many hosts, especially private hosts, are accustomed to using reliable preventive and curative methods and are quite capable of welcoming pilgrims in a healthy manner. .. I share with you my effective recipes to prevent this infestation by fairly simple means: apply "special crawling insect" insecticide to each mattress, pillow, and box spring as a preventive measure 3 to 4 times a year, depending on occupancy. Change sheets and pillowcases after each person, after checking for traces of blood. Inspect the mattress pads, mattresses, and box springs systematically for bed bugs. Wash floors and baseboards each time with a professional disinfectant containing Insectyl or any other product effective against crawling insects like bed bugs. If a pilgrim says they have been bitten, even a few days earlier, put the backpack in the full sun for 1 hour after having enclosed it in a large black garbage bag, and reapply the preventive product to all bedding in the room after departure. Always have an automatic "special infestations" diffuser to use in case of proven presence of bed bugs.
These small measures only take a few minutes when practiced systematically and you end up forgetting this fear of bed bugs! As for you pilgrims, notify your hosts when you have been bitten, never put your bags on the beds, remember to air out and shake your belongings regularly when you are outside, and use a preventive product against bed bugs. Trust your hosts who are delighted to welcome you..."

Pascale Hennebois, Chambres d'Hôtes "Au Chien Pèlerin", 2 chemin du Nord, 32700 Sainte Mère - Auchienpelerin(at)orange.fr -