In less than 10 months, the Summer Olympics will begin in Paris. However, France is currently facing a troublesome issue that it hopes to resolve before then. According to NPR, there has been a nationwide resurgence of bedbugs, bloodsucking insects about the size of an apple seed that hide in mattresses, clothing, and furniture and feed on humans at night. Paris’ first deputy mayor, Emmanuel Gregoire, warned on X, the former Twitter, that “no one is safe.”
France 24 reports that bedbugs have been found in various places including the Charles de Gaulle Airport, high-speed trains, and the Paris subway. The recent increase in travel, with bedbugs often hitching a ride in luggage, along with their growing resistance to insecticides, has contributed to this resurgence, as stated by ANSES, France’s food and environmental agency. NPR reports that between 2017 and 2022, over 10% of French households reported having a bedbug problem. These pests can cause rashes, blisters, itching, and allergic reactions from their bites.
“We must act!” exclaimed Gregoire in a second tweet, announcing his request to Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne for a conference to tackle this “scourge.” He emphasized the importance of involving all stakeholders in addressing this public health matter. Despite the bedbug issue, Gregoire assured that there is no threat to the Olympic Games, as bedbugs have existed before and will continue to exist. Clement Beaune, France’s transport minister, intends to convene transit operators this week to find a solution and provide reassurance and protection. (Read more bedbug stories.)
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