South Korea Unleashes Secret Weapon Against Bedbugs

In an innovative approach aimed at safeguarding the country from the intrusion of unsightly pests upon the return of its populace from the Paris Olympics, South Korea has put into action an exceptional measure at Incheon, the nation’s premier international gateway.

The central figure in this unique initiative is Ceco, a sprightly two-year-old beagle, heralded by the Cesco pest control agency as the pioneering, and presently sole, dog adept at sniffing out bedbugs by detecting the distinct scent of their pheromones.

According to Kim Min-Su, a spokesperson for the company, Ceco demonstrates remarkable efficiency, able to thoroughly examine a typical hotel chamber in less than 120 seconds.

Cesco’s collaborative efforts with the South Korean ministries responsible for security and transport, in alliance with the Disease Control and Prevention Agency, underscore a well-coordinated strategy embracing airline partnerships and airport operations at Incheon to scrutinize arriving passengers.

The urgency of this campaign is underscored by last year’s scramble in Paris to quell a burgeoning bedbug scare in anticipation of the Olympic festivities, highlighting the potential for these minuscule, flightless insects to overshadow the international sporting gala.

A government statement concerning the likelihood of bedbugs hitchhiking into South Korea post-Olympics prompted a “preemptive response to intercept the entry” through Incheon airport.

Ceco’s deployment, which commenced this Friday with the influx of Olympics participants, is slated for continuity until September 8, per government disclosure. This move follows South Korea’s dispatch of 144 athletes to the Paris Olympics, which concluded recently.

In a notable shift from routine practices, flights making the journey directly from Paris are now subjected to a weekly disinfection regimen, a significant increase from the previously monthly schedule.

This preemptive step, alongside rigorous airport quarantine preparedness, aims at curtailing any potential outbreak within the transit hub or aboard the aircraft.

This initiative follows closely on the heels of a nationwide frenzy last year over suspected bedbug occurrences across various accommodations and a traditional spa, prompting a comprehensive extermination campaign.