Published on: October 10, 2024, 06:31h.

Last updated on: October 10, 2024, 06:31h.

A legal action was taken by a woman from Mississippi against the Strat Hotel, Casino & Tower due to sustaining “permanent scarring” from bed bug bites while staying at the Las Vegas establishment, as reported by a local news outlet.

The irritating bugs bit Krystal Nailer on her buttocks and left leg during her overnight stay at the hotel in October 2022, according to a lawsuit filed on Tuesday and covered by Las Vegas TV station KLAS.

The bites resulted in “painful welts.” She also endured “terrible itching and pain for weeks,” as stated in the lawsuit.

Nailer also noticed a bed bug on the bed in her hotel room, the report noted.

After complaining to the hotel’s front desk, a Strat employee went to her room and inspected for the insects.

“The employee completed an incident report and supplied [her] with hydrocortisone cream for her injuries,” according to the lawsuit.

Following her stay at the hotel, she suffered emotional distress and financial loss. She disposed of clothes that were in the hotel room, according to KLAS.

Casino Reactions

On Thursday, Casino.org contacted the Strat for a response. However, no immediate statement was provided.

In response to previous reports of bed bugs being found at other Las Vegas hotels, the Nevada Resort Association, a trade group for the industry, issued a statement stating, “Unfortunately, these pests can be unknowingly transported in luggage and clothing.”

While extremely rare, when reported, our members take prompt action in line with health and safety regulations.

In February, live bed bugs were discovered by health inspectors at four Las Vegas Strip casino resorts — Encore, Venetian, Mirage, and Excalibur — over a few months.

Prior to this, in August 2023, Casino.org reported that bed bugs were found at seven hotels over the previous two years: Circus Circus, Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood, The Palazzo, Tropicana, MGM Grand, and Sahara. In October, another report revealed bed bugs were found at The Venetian and Park MGM.

When Casino.org contacted the initial seven resorts where bed bugs were discovered, the Tropicana mentioned that they regularly carry out “comprehensive preventative maintenance programs.”

Although highly unlikely, in the event of a complaint, we immediately isolate the affected room and surroundings,” the statement added. “At that point, a third-party service will evaluate the situation and provide recommendations on appropriate next steps, including professional treatment, if necessary.

In a statement to Casino.org, the Sahara stated: “Despite being extremely rare, our immediate response protocol ensures any issue is effectively resolved.”

In another statement to KLAS, MGM Resorts International previously mentioned: “We have comprehensive procedures in place.”

Common Issue

In May, Forbes magazine reported that The Sleep Doctor conducted a survey which revealed that 14% of U.S. travelers “reported a bed bug encounter in the past year, and 20 percent of those sightings occurred in five-star hotels.”

A national registry, BedbugReports.com, maintains online records of bed bug incidents at hotels in the U.S. and Canada.

Bed bugs are parasitic insects known to bite people during the night, causing rashes and allergic reactions.