A pair of hotels along the Las Vegas Strip are facing lawsuits after guests reported being bitten by bedbugs, one requiring a hospital visit.
Four visitors filed three lawsuits — two against the Luxor Hotel & Casino and one against Treasure Island — on April 21, according to 8 News Now, with guests saying in court documents they were “massacred” by bedbugs and left with scars.
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“The hotel operator has a responsibility to make sure that that room is bedbug-free,” Brian Virag, an attorney representing the guests, told the local broadcaster in a story published May 12.
Here are the details behind the story, and what you can do if you’re ever in this situation.
Bedbug lawsuits
One lawsuit involves California woman Teresa Bruce, and says she stayed at the hotel Treasure Island last June. According to 8 News Now, Bruce’s lawsuit alleges staff confirmed the presence of bedbugs in her room. After switching rooms, she noticed further bites, and staff allegedly once again found bedbugs.
Illinois residents Courtney and Stephen Gully have sued the Luxor Hotel after Courtney allegedly had a reaction to bedbugs in their room in which she felt like her throat was closing. Per 8 News Now, the lawsuit states staff had to send an EMT to her room and an ambulance took her to the hospital where she was seen in the parking lot and given narcotics. Luxor refunded the resort fee following the incident last June.
The final guest, Brianna McKenzie of Washington, stayed at the Luxor when the hotel allegedly confirmed the presence of bedbugs in her room last July, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Virag shared photos with the broadcaster of bite marks he says were from his clients. Every hotel guest, he says, regardless of how nice an establishment, should be protected from bedbugs.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re paying $60 a night for a room, or $600 a night for a room. The obligation on the hotel operator is the same — you have to keep the guests safe,” he said.
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Journalists reached out to MGM International, owner of the Luxor, and Treasure Island for comment but did not immediately get a response.
This isn’t the first time Las Vegas hotels have been accused of bedbug infestations. Last fall, 8 News Now published a story on guests reporting bedbugs at four other hotels over a six-month period, according to the Southern Nevada Health District.
Avoiding bedbugs
Staying in a hotel with bedbugs is more than just an inconvenience. Bites can occasionally result in severe reactions and your personal belongings may become infested.
While even the cleanest hotels can fall victim to bed bugs, there are preventative measures you can take to try to avoid staying in an infested hotel.
Make sure to check reviews through websites like Google, TripAdvisor or Yelp and specifically search for the term “bedbugs.” Keep an eye out for any reviews about recent infestations.
If you wish, you can call the hotel to inquire about their bedbug protocols and other pest control procedures, and specifically ask how often each room is checked and/or treated.
Once you arrive at your room, inspect common bedbug locations for signs of an infestation. They may be found in mattresses and around headboards, wall art and baseboards. Bedbugs are small and reddish-brown colored. Their eggs appear as tiny white specks and their feces are small black dots. Be on the lookout for blood spots on bedsheets. Bedbug bites may appear as clusters or in a linear pattern on exposed skin.
“They typically will bite in linear patterns,” Virag said while gesturing a bite sequence on his arm. “We call it breakfast, lunch and dinner.”
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
