Since 2018 at Frankfurt airport sniffer dogs in the search for parasites in suitcases and bags. Germany’s largest Airport is the only one in the world that offers this Service to private travelers.
The journey of trekking backpack and ends in a black plastic bag. And yet one. And a third party. “Safe is safe,” says Larry Hansen and lashed the bundle with a tight knot. After many years and thousands of kilometers of the way of the backpack and its owner separate in the arrival hall of Frankfurt airport, abruptly. “But it’s better that way, as that later at home the Trouble,” says the young woman and looks a little the worse for wear.
The “Trouble” sits in your Luggage is a few millimeters in size, brown, keen to travel and nearly indestructible: Cimex lectularius – the bed bug. Who has you at home, get rid of them. “Crawl into the tiniest crevices,” says Larry Hansen. “And if you flee from his infested bedroom next door increases the Problem.” Because of the bug, says Hansen, follow their victim. Since only the exterminator will help.
In order to avoid it in the first place so far, there are Larry Hansen, Mathias Krekel, Cora and Buddy. The Four belong to the Bed-Bugs-a Team of Frankfurt airport, and prey on bed bugs. Cora and Buddy are search dogs and sniffin ‘ out the tiniest traces of the parasites. For this, you trained for months and had to drop their holders a check. Since this year you must act in the Luggage of incoming pass to Cimex lectularius are looking for. Europe’s fourth largest Airport, the only one in the world who holds such a force as the offer is for private travelers.
The bed bug-sniffing dog escapes (almost) not a bug
More than 90 percent of hit rate
Five Teams, four men and a woman, plus dogs that are in the service of the operator, Fraport, and work in a different occupation from about half six in the morning until 22 o’clock in the evening — as long as the airport is landed. Every three to four bets, so Hansen would find bugs in their Luggage.
Forced to leave his suitcase by sniffing, however, no one. “This is voluntary,” says Hansen. Who wants to make his case to investigate, had to register just online. Three pieces of Luggage cost 105, each additional 30 Euro. “The dogs have a hit rate of more than 90 percent,” says Hansen proud. For this purpose, the case must be opened. “We are not looking at the content,” reassured Mathias Krekel. “Only the fact whether or not the dog shows.” His Labrador Buddy buries its nose deep in clothes and backpack for the world traveller, and soon shows what means to be a holder. The culture bag, the guide is uninteresting, also. But a flowered dress has it done to him. Buddy takes a nose full and couches. “He shows,” says Krekel. Also in the bottom compartment of the backpack, the dog will find it.
All of the stuff out: bed bug detection dog in action at the airport
Bugs are everywhere, and you are not a hygiene problem
After about 20 minutes of searching Buddy needs a break – the concentrated snooping is high-performance sport for the animal. Even if he was in your Luggage, find it, facilitates the travelers. “Now, I know at least know,” she says. At home they have not wool, the bugs eventually. Three months the young woman in Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan was on the road and caught somewhere in the unwelcome fellow travelers. “I once stayed in a Hostel with 16 beds per room and for many people,” she says. Since that time, they have also stitches and itching.
That bed bugs accommodation only a Problem in the community or in long-distance travel were denied Hansen. “The world is a village, anywhere.” Therefore, everyone could get everywhere. “By Bus and airplane seats, movie theater chairs, youth hostels, luxury hotels or in shops.” With a lack of Hygiene, bed bugs have nothing to do. “The need for blood, so you go where people are,” says the expert. She is particularly fond of and crawled in worn lingerie, and a suitcase. Some Hotels and airlines to Frankfurt’s use of force to deal that is why for the last six years. “Just nobody talks about it here,” says Hansen. In Sweden, however, the household insurance take cost of a combat. “And in Switzerland there are Hotels that advertise even so, that you leave your rooms to search.” In France, the cinema left their seats to sniff.
To detect with the naked eye (in bed), heavy bed bugs in a glass
The oven is taboo
The student from the arrival hall wishes that many travelers use the Service. “You’re wearing the bugs otherwise.” The dog squad from the airport, however, is only for the Finding of bed bugs in charge. In order to make them down, others have to pick up. “We have two pest repeller that care when needed,” explains airport spokeswoman Sandy Chen. Larry Hansen recommends that patients, their Luggage there. “Then it is treated either with heat or with insecticides.” After a day, it could be picked up or will be sent later. Normal insect spray from the drugstore to help as little as some tips from the Internet. “It can cause fires when people heat stuff in the oven to get rid of bed bugs,” says Hansen. In addition, a furnace hold rarely a constant temperature. The bug can tell when it’s going to be too warm, and crawl. “And then you sit in any crack from the oven.”
Wash at 60 degrees was also not without risk. “Since the temperature is not right from the very beginning so high,” says Hansen. The bug make it in time from the dust. “We have found live specimens in the electronics of washing machines,” warns the expert. Who wants to yourself the bugs in the tanks, which Hansen tells, could try it with the freezer: “pure bugs Luggage to the lid and at least twelve days in there.”