I have been listening to the news, and I'm worried.
My friend, bedbug infestation in this our small Nairobi. Now in addition to worrying about drunk drivers, traffic snarl ups, random bomb scares and thieving beings, I have to device ways to not become a carrier. You know, a bedbug carrier. You laugh. These things are serious.This is why I am freaking out.
1. Bedbugs do not fly, but they can move quickly over floors, walls, and ceilings. Female bedbugs may lay hundreds of eggs, each of which is about the size of a speck of dust, over a lifetime. Under favorable conditions the bugs can develop fully in as little as a month and produce three or more generations per year.
Someone from the affected neighbourhood gives the bugs a lift to town. They then take the same matatu/bus I am in and sit next to me. "Aaaah, fresh blood! Hii kwanza inakaaa tamu because of all the fruits and salads she eats #flattummyquest! Sluuuurp!" The bug would exclaim! And just like that it will go calling his/her comrades who also came to town, to test these new grounds. Then the cycle will continue. We will be at the mercy of the little monsters, especially because the females may lay hundreds of eggs before you finally get a hold of and execute her.
2.Their initial hiding places are typically in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, and headboards where they have easy access to people to bite in the night.
Aki! You all know how I love my sleep, I love mornings because they symbol unmerited favour, gift of life. I also kinda don't like them because I have to wake up and you know, work, and, and and...I just love my sleep. Rest assured these bugs wont give me a good night rest. Implications: I will fall asleep in the bus on my way to work(if the ones on transit don't get to me first), and risk that thieving character relieving me of my valuables or worse, missing my stop then having to explain to the boss that because bedbugs, therefore I am late. Excuse my English.
3) Most bedbug bites are painless at first, but later turn into itchy welts. Bedbug bites are on any area of skin exposed while sleeping.
Welt: A red, swollen mark left on flesh
Sisi kama rangi ya thao community need not blemishes. Everyone knows that people have met their better halves in matatus and they've lived happily ever after. Of course! I am just saying, all the itching and the resulting welts wont make you attractive. No matter what they tell you, the first physical attraction definitely counts :D
So how are we going to counter this? I have a few suggestions:
1) Buy a car and never give lifts.
2)Protect yourself: While using public transport, insulate yourself with some sort of material...sanasana juala; do not expose any skin. Oh, aki this one is for the already hitched ones. Lol!
3) Install a hot shower and a have change of clothes for you and your guests right next to the gate. The used clothes must be set ablaze.
4) Start eating bitter herbs and taking mwarubaine(Neem plant juice). Bugs are rarely on a diet. Your blood will become bitter and they won't like that, so they'll leave with their young and unborn ones, because they do not want any one of them to go through such injustice.
Finally.
Because bedbugs live solely on blood, having them in your home is not a sign of dirtiness. You are as likely to find them in immaculate homes and hotel rooms as in filthy ones. So relax. As soon as your blood becomes tasteless to the new generation bugs, they'll move.
Even so, I hope, pray that matatus will still keep the seats clean. Yesterday, my friend and I encountered a huge cockroach in the matatu. Have bug free rides this Easter season yo!
Additional information from:
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/bedbugs-infestation
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