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Bedbugs spark political row in France - 18th October 2023
Mounting fears over bedbug infestation in France see authorities scrambling to tackle the alleged outbreak brought to light via social media. Viral videos purport to show the bloodsucking insects crawling on seats on the metro and trains across the country, but the Ministry of Transport has attempted to squelch these claims.
It’s yet to be confirmed whether the situation merits panic or if it’s mere social media sensationalization.
Nevertheless, sightings of bedbugs seem to be surging globally, with bedbugs scuttling into passengers’ luggage on international travel, signalling everyone’s at risk.
Parasitologist, Dr Mohand Arezki Izri is on the case in France.
Dr Mohand Arezki Izri: "The first reports of bedbug infestations are coming from the big hotels, the palaces, the five-star hotels, where there are no hygiene problems, that's for sure. It's people who have travelled and brought back bedbugs and left them in the hotel."
Surviving solely on human blood, the nocturnal insects go largely undetected until it’s too late, with the only evidence of their presence being bites on your skin or tiny dots of blood on bed linen.
Parisian Virginie’s taking precautionary measures.
Virginie: "I've never had bedbugs. But it's true that we're hearing a lot about them at the moment, so I'm quite careful. As soon as I get home, I change my clothes and put everything in the wash, precisely to avoid bringing any back, because apparently there are more and more of them. As I travel a lot by train, I'm quite careful."
Sparking a political row in Paris, the French government, including President Macron are responding to rising anxiety with urgency. With the Paris Olympics 2024 rapidly approaching, it’s in the government’s best interest to reassure potential visitors. In an effort to eradicate any infestation, swift action has been taken to address reported cases on public transport, at airports or cinemas. Nevertheless, given 90 percent of the proliferation of bedbugs having built up immunity to insecticides, eradicating them will be no easy feat.
An unperturbed internet content creator, Sabine Vainqueur, claims the panic is much ado about nothing.
Sabine Vainqueur: "I've always lived in Paris, and I've always seen stories about bedbugs around. And now, I have the impression that on social networks, because there's a lot of talk about it, there's a bit of a fuss, when in the end, well, it's something we do pay attention to on a daily basis, but nothing more."
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