Rome:A Qantas flight from Rome to Perth was canceled after bed bugs were found on the aircraft, causing delays of up to two days for some passengers.

According to Anadolu Agency, the incident occurred on flight QF5 from Perth to Rome on October 9, where passengers reported being bitten by insects. Medical advice led to passengers being given antihistamines.

As a result, Qantas canceled the return flight, QF6, scheduled for Saturday, to facilitate a deep clean of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner by maintenance teams. A Qantas spokesperson apologized for the disruption, stating that the cleaning was necessary after identifying the issue on a small number of economy seats.

Affected passengers received accommodation and were rebooked on alternative flights within 48 hours. Qantas regularly cleans and disinfects its aircraft every 50 days as a preventive measure.

Australia's Better Health Channel notes that while bed bugs feed on blood and can cause itching and swelling, they are not known to transmit diseases to humans.