Paris launches emergency plan to fight spread of bed bugs

France’s Transport Ministry and Paris's town hall on Friday launched a battle plan to fight bed bugs that have recently appeared in public transport and cinemas. The measures come as France hosts the Rugby World Cup, which has drawn tens of thousands of visitors.

Bed bugs have been spotted in the Paris metro, high-speed trains and at Paris's Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, with disgusted travellers posting videos on social media.

Bed bugs, which had largely disappeared from daily life by the 1950s, have made a resurgence in recent decades – mostly due to high population densities and more mass transit.

French health officials said bed bugs have been a public health issue since 2020.

One-tenth of all French households are believed to have had a bed bug problem over the past few years, according to a report published by public health safety agency (Anses) in July.

"It's too expensive, so people don't treat their flat, and once their flat is infested, it contaminates neighbouring flats," said Deputy Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire.

Paris city hall on Thursday urged President Emmanuel Macron to help with the infestation by drawing up an emergency action plan as France prepares to host the Olympic Games in 2024.

France's national health agency recommended that people check their hotel beds when travelling and be cautious about bringing second-hand furniture or pre-owned mattresses into their homes.

Once bed bugs are found in a home, affected rooms must be treated quickly, it said.

https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20230929-paris-launches-emergency-plan-to-fight-spread-of-bedbugs