A bedbug infestation from donated clothes closed an Australian op shop for six weeks, costing over $15,000.

A bedbug infestation forced the temporary closure of the Daylesford Community Op Shop in Victoria, Australia, after a bag of donated clothing containing the pests was opened on January 18, causing volunteer bites and triggering a six-week deep clean. All soft goods were discarded at a hazardous waste facility, leading to over $15,000 in cleanup costs and lost sales. Community fundraising raised more than $11,000, helping the shop plan a reopening in early March. Co-founder Michelle Clifford expressed distress over the incident, suggesting the donation may have been intentional or careless. Experts note bedbugs are hard to eliminate due to insecticide resistance and long survival without feeding, and their bites can cause severe itching, allergic reactions, and rare cases of anemia. The event underscores challenges in managing pests in donation-based organizations.