France is facing a bed bug infestation. Discontent isn’t just spreading on the streets – the little insects are even causing arguments in parliament. There will be an emergency meeting on Friday.
Bed bugs are just the size of an apple core – but they are currently a huge issue in France: the small insects are said to have infested cinemas, trains and the Paris metro, among other places. People’s reactions vary between calm and alert.
“If I really have to take her home, then I have to react. But I’m not taking any extra precautions,” says a passer-by. Others, however, pay more attention. “I ventilate properly every morning, check the sheets and the duvet,” says one woman. Everything you hear and read at the moment scares her a bit.
Two thirds more bets from pest controllers
According to the professional association of exterminators, there were 65 percent more operations against bed bugs in France between June and August than in the same period last year. Overall, the number of missions has increased continuously since 2020, says the association. That’s partly because of that, that people are now more aware and are reporting cases more frequently.
Salim Dahou, a biocide technician at Hygiene Premium, removes pillowcases to prevent the spread of bed bugs in an apartment near Paris.
At least when it comes to public transport, there is an all-clear, said Transport Minister Clément Beaune. All reported suspected cases would also be checked there and the results published. “None of the cases reported there in the past few days have been confirmed as actual bed bug infestations,” said Beaune.
According to current knowledge, bed bugs do not transmit diseases. However, their bites can cause rashes and itching – not to mention the nervous strain if your own home is affected.
Bed bugs on the political agenda
Insects have become a political issue in France. Mathilde Panot, parliamentary group leader of the left-wing party La France Insoumise, gave a veritable angry speech in parliament on Tuesday – while holding a sealed glass bottle containing real bed bugs.
“Bed bugs spread in all areas of everyday life, they are a real martyrdom for those affected,” said Panot. They deprive them of sleep and cause constant anxiety and social isolation. “We demand that insect control becomes a free, public service that protects health and the environment. Prime Minister: Does your seat of government have to be infested with bed bugs before you finally take action?”
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne reacted in a similarly sharp tone and asked for “a little decency”. “Political divisions should not play a role in this issue,” she said. “So why are you exaggerating once again? Why don’t you say that the government launched a plan to combat bed bugs in early 2022? We have thus provided the first answers to the problem.”
This plan relies, among other things, on more information so that cases are reported more quickly. From the perspective of critics, however, it does not go far enough. In any case, the topic is now high on the political agenda again: On Friday there will be a government crisis meeting on the subject of “bed bugs”.