Passengers are on high alert after online photos captured a bedbug sighting on the MTR.
In a Facebook post last Saturday (Sep 6), a female passenger on the Tuen Ma Line discovered a brown “strange bug” biting her.
The uploaded photos showed the poster's arm, which appeared red and swollen, alongside an image of a bug seemingly dead on a tissue.
"It cannot be a bedbug, right?" the poster questioned.
The post ignited a heated discussion online, with most users agreeing that the bug was likely a bedbug.
"I’m 90 percent sure it's a bedbug, it would be a disaster if it comes home” a commenter noted.
In the comments, the poster recalled an experience of a bedbug infestation at home, expressing fear about facing the nightmare all over again.
“It took me over a year to get rid of them, and now I'm worried about encountering them again," the poster noted.
Many commenters urged the poster to notify MTR staff immediately, speculating that the bedbug was brought onto the train by another passenger.
Given bedbugs' strong reproductive capabilities, several users warned the poster to handle the situation carefully and avoid taking them home, with suggestions including seeking medical advice and washing clothes and bags in very hot water.
In response, an MTR spokesperson stated that the company is committed to providing a clean and comfortable environment for passengers, stressing there are nightly cleaning and regular pest control treatments in place.
Although no reports of the incident on the Tuen Ma Line have been received, the spokesperson stated that the crew will exercise caution.
Meanwhile, passengers are encouraged to report any findings for follow-up.
According to the Centre for Health Protection, reactions to insect bites can vary, ranging from mild redness to severe allergic reactions, but bedbug bites typically resolve within one to two weeks.
It is recommended to wash infested blankets and bedclothes in hot water (about 60 degrees) and dry them in the sunlight.
For items that cannot be heat-treated, seal them in plastic bags and place them in the freezer at -18 degrees Celsius for 24 hours.
Additionally, applying residual insecticides and using hot air or steam in areas where bed bugs are found can be effective.
The public is also advised to hire a pest control company for professional services if necessary
