Yle seeks residents’ accounts of bedbug removal costs

Yle is asking residents to share what they have paid to get rid of bedbugs, as pest-control companies report infestations increasing in cities across Finland.

The costs can include pest control, disposing of infested furniture and textiles, and buying replacements. Yle is preparing a follow-up article on the expenses residents face.

Last weekend, Yle reported that bedbugs can spread through the growing trade in second-hand goods. In one case, bedbugs travelled from Vaasa to Pietarsaari after a bed was sold through a social media platform. Pest-control companies also say tourism is contributing to the increase.

Juha Pikkarainen, who has worked in pest control in Ostrobothnia for seven years, said bedbug numbers in the region have risen rapidly.