French government 'declares war' on bed bugs

Chính phủ Pháp ‘tuyên chiến’ với nạn rệp giường tràn lan - Ảnh 1. — Hygiene Premium employees spray insecticide to kill bed bugs in the L'Hay-les-Roses area south of Paris on September 29.

CNN reported on September 30 that the French government announced it would take action to "reassure and protect" people, after the capital Paris recorded a widespread increase in bed bugs.

Transport Minister Clement Beaune said he would instruct transport operators to take further action against the blood-sucking insects.

The comments came after calls from Paris officials and trade unions, as footage of bedbugs on public transport and other places such as cinemas emerged on social media.

LCI radio on September 29 quoted Paris deputy mayor Emmanuel Gregoire as saying that bed bugs are rampant. "You have to understand that in reality no one is safe, there is obviously an element of risk but in reality, you can get bed bugs anywhere and bring them home," he warned.

Three years ago, the French government launched an anti-bedbug campaign, including the creation of a dedicated website and hotline, after the insects appeared in many places.

However, Mr. Gregoire said that despite the implementation of the above plan, there are still about 3.6 million people entering Paris every day and bed bugs are still not eliminated in the city's outskirts.

Bed bugs are a "phenomenon present in France and almost everywhere in the world," said Johanna Fite, an expert at the French National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Safety (Anses).

“It's mainly due to the movement of people, people traveling, people staying short-term and bringing bed bugs back in their luggage,” she analyzed, adding that more bed bugs are becoming resistant to insecticides.

“We are seeing more and more bed bug populations that are resistant to insecticides, so there is no magic bullet to get rid of them,” the expert said.

However, the deputy mayor of Paris warned against worrying too much about the issue, saying that "more and more Parisians are turning to the city hall's information services for information about bedbugs".

Paris Olympics 'luxurious' with sponsorship from luxury goods giant LVMH

News of the bedbugs' appearance comes as Paris prepares to host the 2024 Olympics, but city officials say the insects are not a threat to the upcoming event, as "bedbugs were there before and will still be there after", while the event is an opportunity for everyone to come together to tackle the problem.

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