Posted on: October 11, 2024, 05:11h.
Last updated on: October 12, 2024, 03:13h.
When it comes to Las Vegas resorts, bed bugs have tastes that run as expensive as the humans they feed on. According to a new report from the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD), they were recently found at the Bellagio, Cosmopolitan, Resorts Word and Hilton Grand Vacation Club from February through August.
The report, obtained and first reported by KLAS-TV/Las Vegas, said the SNHD found live bed bugs at the Bellagio and Resorts World during investigations dated Feb. 8.
At the Cosmo, its inspectors located the insects on the headboard of a bed after guests reported seeing them while staying in the room May 14-18.
The most recent investigation found an infestation in August at Hilton Grand Vacations.
Bugs Going Around
The SNHD report hits the same week that a lawsuit was filed by a Mississippi woman claiming she suffered “permanent scarring” from bed bug bites to the butt and leg while staying at The Strat in October 2022.
Seeking $30,000 in damages, Krystal Nailer accuses the resort of “deliberately and recklessly” choosing not to inspect or ensure that her room was free of bed bugs before her stay — or, if the casino knew about the bugs, failing to eradicate them.
This brings to 17 the total number of Las Vegas Strip resorts where the itchy pests have been found since 2021. That list also includes, in alphabetical order: Caesars Palace, Circus Circus, Encore, Excalibur, MGM Grand, Mirage, Palazzo, Park MGM, Planet Hollywood, Sahara, Tropicana and Venetian.
The Nevada Resort Association, which is empowered to speak on behalf of all hotels in the state, had no comment on the latest bed bug report.
However, back in February, it released a statement noting that, relative to the state’s 155,000 hotel rooms and 41 million annual visitors, “the minute number of incidents reflects the comprehensive and proactive health and safety measures and pest-control procedures Las Vegas resorts have in place to prevent and address issues.”
Sleep Tight
Warning signs of a bed bug infestation include inflamed spots on the face, neck, arms, or hands — frequently arranged in a line and often darker in the middle. The bites can cause painful itching. rashes and other allergic reactions, and infections if scratched vigorously.
Before the bites even happen, other telltale signs include rusty or reddish stains — signs of crushed insects — on a mattress or around a bedframe, in addition to small black dots, which are their feces.
Guests are advised by bed bug experts to store their suitcases in the bathtub while conducting spot checks upon entering any hotel room.
