A Huge Bedbug Outbreak Is Sweeping Paris And People Are Freaking Out
Bedbugs have been reportedly spotted on public transportation, cinemas and hospitals, and even caused a school shutdown in Paris.
A bedbug outbreak is sweeping over France, causing panic among city residents and putting pressure on the government before the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris
Reports of bedbugs sightings on public transportation, cinemas and hospitals have soared in the past few weeks in France, in particular in Paris, the most-visited city in the world in 2022.
They even caused a school shutdown in Paris.
Reports of the outbreak started a few weeks ago and coincided with Paris Fashion Week, causing panic and jokes that celebrities and influencers would bring the bedbugs home with them overseas.
Bedbugs are common in cities and are found living in mattresses, carpets, clothing and linens.
They feed on human blood but don’t transmit diseases, with bites causing itchiness, redness and swelling.
Experts say the recent resurgence may be due to the growth in international tourism after the world opened up after COVID.
Calls to exterminators have surged, and 1 in 10 French households have been infested in the past 5 years, according to a government study.
Reports indicate that French citizens spend an average of nearly 900 euros to hire exterminators — a financial burden to many.
Amid the panic, Paris’ deputy mayor said that “no one is safe”.
The outbreak is putting pressure on the French government as Paris will host the 2024 Summer Olympics in less than a year.
However, France’s transport minister said all the bedbug cases on public transport turned out to be false alarms and called on the public not to “succumb to psychosis”.
French Transport Minister said that nearly half of bedbug cases on public transport turned out to be false alarms, according to the BBC.
“There is no threat to the Olympic Games,” Pais’s Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire told CNN. “Bedbugs existed before and they will exist afterward,” adding that the Olympics could be an opportunity for everyone to address this problem.
Government officials said they are taking the issue very seriously and held an emergency meeting on Friday, Oct. 6, but no measures have been announced at this time.
