Can you get bed bugs by being around someone who has them?

Author: Prof. Darrin Marvin  |  Last update: Friday, February 20, 2026

Bed bugs are not contagious in that they cannot be transmitted from person-to-person. However, bed bugs can hide and live in a person's bedding, clothing, luggage, and furniture. When these items enter a home or are transported to another area, they can transport the bed bugs with them.

How easily do bed bugs transfer from person to person?

Bedbugs are not spread from one person to another. They are not an indication that people or their homes are dirty. They may hide in belongings or clothing that allow them to spread to others in group care settings. These insects crawl at the speed of a ladybug.

Can you get bed bugs from hugging someone who has them?

While it's possible to get bed bugs from visiting someone's home, the likelihood of doing so just by hugging someone is quite low. Bed bugs typically travel by hitching a ride on personal items like clothing, bags, or furniture rather than directly from person to person.

How likely is it for someone to bring bed bugs to your house?

Yes, it is possible to get bed bugs from visiting someone's house. Bed bugs can easily move from one house to another by sticking to clothes or suitcases. However, it is not certain that you will end up with a bed bug problem for visiting an infested house.

Is it okay to be around someone with bed bugs?

Bed bugs are not contagious in the sense that they live on people and are transmitted directly from person to person. Bed bugs feed on human blood and can be spread by travelers and/or people who come in contact with bedding, clothing, or furniture that contains bed bugs.

Can I get bed bugs just by being around someone who has them?

Will bed bugs stay on clothes you're wearing?

Technically, bed bugs are unlikely to live on the clothes you're wearing, but they can quickly take up residence on items in a suitcase, and even what's in your drawers or on your floor. You should always launder items after returning from a trip, but will washing clothes kill bed bugs or just reduce the population?

How easy is it to catch bed bugs?

Bed bugs don't have wings, but they spread quickly by hitchhiking and are agile and fast-moving once they're in your home. Typically, you pick up one or more of these unwanted hitchhikers when you visit a home or hotel that already has a bed bug infestation.

How to prevent someone from bringing bed bugs into your home?

Reduce clutter in your home to reduce hiding places for bed bugs. Vacuum frequently to remove any successful hitchhikers. Be vigilant when using shared laundry facilities. Transport items to be washed in plastic bags (if you have an active infestation, use a new bag for the journey home).

What are the first signs of bedbugs?

The first clue suggesting that you may have a bed bug infestation is often the presence of itching bites. However, bites reactions are quite variable and may not be due to bed bugs at all. Be aware of the other signs that bed bugs leave behind: fecal spots, molted skins, and aggregations.

What kills bed bugs permanently?

Pyrethroids are synthetic chemical insecticides that act like pyrethrins. Both compounds are lethal to bed bugs and can flush bed bugs out of their hiding places and kill them.

Can someone give you bed bugs by sitting in your car?

So, while bed bugs can certainly get into your car, likely from luggage or clothes, they do not seek to infest your car. Once they hitch a ride on you or your property, they will travel in your car and enter your property when you return home. This is where the “real” infestation nightmare can begin.

Are bed bugs hard to get rid of?

Treating your home for bed bugs takes a lot of time and hard work, so it's a good idea to make sure that you really do have bed bugs before you waste time and effort trying to get rid of the wrong bug. You can't tell from a few bites that you have bed bugs, and some people don't react to bed bug bites.

How to prevent bed bug bites while sleeping?

How can I prevent bed bug bites?
  1. Encase mattresses and box springs in protective plastic covers.
  2. Vacuum frequently, especially in areas near where you sleep.
  3. Cut down on clutter in your home, which will eliminate some hiding places for bed bugs.

How to tell if bedbugs are in your clothes?

They are nocturnal insects that feed on human blood, often leaving small blood stains on the fabric. Another sign of bed bugs is the presence of tiny, dark fecal spots. These are often found along seams or in folds of clothing. A musty odor, similar to that of a wet towel, can also indicate the presence of bed bugs.

How long before I know if I brought bed bugs home?

Each infestation is different from home to home, but generally, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a month for signs of the infestation to show up. If the infestation is small to start, the signs won't be immediate. But if the infestation is large, we mentioned a few pest management tips.

What scent kills bed bugs instantly?

Blood Orange Oil

This essential oil is proven to be one of the most effective solutions when bed bugs are the matter as it can kill the pest successfully.

How can I test myself for bed bugs?

How to check for bedbugs
  1. A sweet, musty odor. Take a deep breath. ...
  2. Specks of blood on bedding, mattresses, or upholstered furniture such as couches and headboards. Look carefully at your blankets, sheets, and mattress pads and then check the mattress and box spring. ...
  3. Exoskeletons. ...
  4. Tiny, blackish specks. ...
  5. Eggs.

What to do if you slept in a bed with bed bugs?

What to Do After Sleeping in a Bed with Bed Bugs
  1. 1) Remove and wash all bedding and clothing. ...
  2. 2) Vacuum your mattress, box spring, and surrounding areas. ...
  3. 3) Use a steam cleaner. ...
  4. 4) Use a bed bug spray. ...
  5. 5) Contact a professional exterminator.

What to do if you've been exposed to bedbugs?

Remove your footwear, bags, and leave them outside the home, or in the garage. Undress directly into a clothes washer if possible, or into plastic bags in a bathroom area. Double bag clothing until you can launder and dry the items as soon as possible.

Can you get bed bugs from someone sitting next to you?

Bed bugs bite people and crawl on people, so you might assume people can spread bed bugs. However, this is not the case. Unlike fleas and ticks, bed bugs do not latch onto people. Instead, they will retreat after feeding.

What can I put on my body to prevent bed bug bites?

Essential oils. While essential oils like tea tree, lavender, and peppermint are popularly recommended for DIY bed bug treatments due to their strong scents and supposed insect-repellent properties, there is not much scientific evidence to support their effectiveness in eradicating bed bug infestations.

What to do if you find one bed bug?

  1. If you're a renter, call your landlord right away. ...
  2. If you're staying at a hotel, call the front desk and request a room change. ...
  3. If you own the home, call a pest management company immediately.

Are bed bugs due to poor hygiene?

Bed bugs are not a result of poor hygiene or cleanliness; rather, they are seasoned hitchhikers that can easily travel from place to place on clothing, luggage, or furniture. Their resurgence in recent years can be attributed to increased global travel and resistance to common pesticides.

Why do I wake up with bites not bed bugs?

Like bed bugs, most insects like spiders, chiggers, and mites are active at night, so these creatures could be causing the problem. Meanwhile, here are other critters that may cause itchy bites on your skin: Mosquito bites usually appear as reddish, swollen welts scattered around your body.

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