Government of France announced on Tuesday that it would hold an urgent conference to look into the rising number of bedbug cases that have been reported, which is thought to be a significant public health issue. Outraged residents have reported finding bed bugs in places like trains, the Paris metro, and movie theatres. The issue of bed bugs has now become a serious political issue, necessitating action from authorities.
Two schools in France, one in Marseille and the other in Villefranche-sur-Saône outside of Lyon, have experienced significant bedbug infestations. According to local officials, both schools were closed for cleaning for a number of days.
The 2024 Olympics will be held in France, and a large number of athletes from throughout the world will go here during that time. In addition, France is also in charge of hosting the Rugby World Cup, which has made the bedbug issue a source of great worry for the French authorities.
Plan of Action by Authorities in France-
The goal of the emergency meeting, which will take place on Today, i.e., 4 October 2023, is to stabilise the situation and identify a solution. Clement Beaune, the minister of transport, and representatives from the industry will host the gathering. A follow-up inter-ministerial meeting will take place on Friday.
A cross-party initiative to address the bedbug issue will be proposed in the French National Assembly in early December, according to Sylvain Maillard, the leader of President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party. Right-wing and hard-left opponents have been invited to offer recommendations for a cross-party meeting, and the issue will be given top priority.
Aurelien Rousseau, the minister of health, emphasised on France Inter Radio that there is no need to fear about this situation at the same time. Aurelien Rousseau warns people to stay away from scammers who can prey on this bed insect issue. In France due this severe scourge of bed bugs the pest control services are charging exorbitant amounts of money rounding up to about 2000-3000 Euros to disinfect and clear the bed bugs.
Stressing on the need of an urgent prevention plan, making an emergency fund and initiating public disinfestation services the head of hard-left France Unbowed MPs Mathilde Panot has called for an immediate action after ignorance of the part of the government for nearly six years.
The amount of bedbug infestation in France is worse than in past years, but it is still manageable, according to the National Institute for the Study and Control of Bedbugs (INELP).
Since two or three years ago, bedbug infestations have increased in France, usually peaking in the summer. However, this year, it exceeded all previous years, according to INELP President Marie Effroy, who also noted that the acceleration began at the end of August, beginning of September.
Bed Bugs Affecting Public Health and Daily Life-
Bites from bed bugs can result in big rashes, blisters, or red areas on the skin. Allergies and scratching might also result from this. Bites from bed bugs can also result in sadness, anxiety, insomnia, and psychological distress.
Bedbugs, which had mostly vanished from daily life by the 1950s, have recently returned due to high population densities and increased use of mass transit. It has been brought to light that one-tenth of total French households have been facing the bed-bug problem for a few years and thus they have to get appropriate bed bug treatment done at regular intervals of time. These bugs are usually found in mattresses, clothes, luggage, etc.
Internet scare stories are spreading so quickly that they are converting what was once a trusted slow-day chestnut for newspapers into a national emergency. The movie theatre owners are extremely alarmed when films surface showing unknown mites on a seat. They are already concerned about decreased attendance. People have started inspecting the upholstery in metros. Others favour standing.
