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Journalism of Courage
Following reports of bedbugs spotted in Paris hotels, movie theatres, and the metro train among other public places, demands have been raised for government action to deal with what some call an “infestation”.
An opposition party leader recently brought a small vial containing bedbugs to the country’s parliament, rhetorically asking Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne if nothing would be done until the issue affects her own office. Another Member of Parliament from the ruling Renaissance party said a cross-party bill would be put forward “at the beginning of December” to combat the “scourge” of bedbugs.
How big is the problem and what are the concerns associated with the tiny insects, usually not bigger than a few millimetres? We explain.
France’s Transport Minister Clement Beaune, after meeting with industry executives recently, said, “There is no resurgence of cases.” He said there were about 10 traveller reports made to the Paris public transport operator and 37 to the national rail operator in recent weeks, according to a report from The Guardian. None of them led to any proof of the bugs.
But with videos of the bugs on train seats and other locations in the city going viral on social media, the issue has picked up steam. The deputy mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire, told French TV: “No one is safe. You can catch them anywhere and bring them home, and not detect them in time until they have multiplied and spread.”
Beaune said sniffer dogs would be deployed in the Paris Metro and reports would be released on reported cases of infestations, but stressed the situation was “no resurgence” as of now.
What might be the reason behind the bedbugs?
It’s difficult to say. Many have attributed bedbugs to the spurt in travel. Bedbugs are not linked to hygiene issues but because of their size can attach themselves unspotted in clothes and other everyday objects.
Some experts believe it is not an unusual phenomenon exactly, but the scale may be bigger this time. “Every late summer we see a big increase in bedbugs,” said Jean-Michel Berenger, an entomologist at Marseille’s main hospital, in a BBC report. “That is because people have been moving about over July and August, and they bring them back in their luggage.” He said that each year, the travel-induced seasonal increase is bigger than the last one.
The report added that for two or three decades now, bedbugs have been making a return in countries like the UK and France – partly why there has been a frenzy about their presence now.
In these countries, historically, pesticides like DDT kept bedbugs away for many decades. However, the environmental impact of such chemicals led to a fall in their use and the re-emergence of these insects. Consequently. The ones appearing now might be more resistant to anti-bug chemicals.
Finally, the report says that a decline in cockroaches – who are predators of bedbugs – might be another possible reason.
Also, with the next Olympic games set to be held in Paris next year and the Paris Fashion Week just concluded on October 3, the high influx of tourists has become a cause for worry.
Bedbugs cause itching and inflammation through their bites. A report in The Conversation said that the most common bite reactions are itchy red spots at feeding sites that usually go away in a week or so.
But some people have complex skin reactions, including hives and blisters, or allergic responses. Extreme infestations can, in rare cases, lead to blood loss severe enough to cause anaemia, it said.
According to the Associated Press, “If an infestation is confirmed, technicians move in to zap the area with super hot steam. Heat and cold are enemies of bedbugs.” Extermination companies are also being called in by people. As a precaution, some people are now keeping their clothes in freezers after returning home.
