The journey on the Tirrenia ferry, departing Civitavecchia for Olbia, arriving in Sardinia for a long-awaited vacation, and then, suddenly, the itching, redness, and swelling. And the doctor's office gave the diagnosis: an infestation of pests, almost certainly bed bugs.

The protagonists of the mishap were CD, a tourist from Lazio who landed on the island in July, and his wife, the real victim. The two spent the night on the Athara en route to the island, sharing a double cabin. There were no problems during the crossing, and when they docked at 8:00 a.m., everything was fine. The problems began a few hours later, the tourist told UnioneSarda.it.

"We got in the car and headed towards Trinità d'Agultu, where we were supposed to spend a few days of peace. However, my wife began to feel a growing discomfort in her hands and neck. As time went by, we noticed the appearance of rashes and red spots, and that's when we started to worry ," he continues.

At that point they went to the pharmacy in Isola Rossa, where they were advised to go immediately to the emergency medical service. "That same evening, after the visit to the emergency medical service in Trinità d'Agultu , my wife was diagnosed with an infestation of insects, most likely bed bugs." Then the prescription: "Cortisone/antihistamine injection and cortisone tablets for 7 days."

In short, the vacation was ruined, given "the severe incompatibility between medications and solar radiation." The woman was forced to stay at home while she waited to feel better, but her recovery was also very slow. "My wife is a hygiene fanatic," the tourist explains, " so she remained fully clothed the entire night on the ship . The only exposed areas were her hands and neck; it can't be a coincidence ."

The man contacted Tirrenia with an official complaint , he emphasizes, but the company rejected the complaints to the sender "because there were no reports to the onboard staff during the trip. This is also impossible since bedbugs are not mosquitoes and the effects only occur a few hours later." "That's how it is now," he concludes, "and I'm very sorry. I just hope what happened to us doesn't happen to others."