Creepy crawly traveler's alert: There could be an infestation of bed bugs at a hotel near you. A New York lawyer is suing a posh London hotel after he and his wife were attacked by bed bugs.
Sweet dreams!!!
EPA/Lindsey Parnaby
The Daily Mail reports Sidney Bluming and his wife Cynthia are seeking several million dollars in damages from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in the action filed at the US District Court, Manhattan.
They claim that hundreds of bites left their skin red, swollen and itchy during a five-day stay at the Hyde Park hotel last May, allegedly the insects infested their luggage, which led to further problems in their apartment when they returned home.
Allegedly they were forced to fumigate their home and throw away clothing, bedding, luggage and personal effects.
The Daily Mail reports Jill Kluge, communications director for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, stating: "We can confirm a regrettable, but isolated, incident of infestation occurred in May 2006 within one guest room at our London property.
"On discovery, a full investigation was carried out and the problem fully rectified. There have been no subsequent incidents. The matter has been referred to our insurers.
"Mandarin Oriental's policy is to operate with the highest standards of conduct, with stringent hygiene systems and processes in place at all of our hotels to safeguard the health and safety of our guests."
New York City has recently been in the news for similar bed bug offenses at toney properties, and experts cite world travelers from certain countries harboring the nasty bugs in their luggage, which get out and infest the hotel mattresses, hiding until they sense a warm host body in the bed to feast on during the night.
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