After Covid, it's the big worry that's gripping the capital: bedbugs. After discovering these pests in cinemas and on public transport, the Paris region is in a state of psychosis. Here's all the latest news and information on this detestable insect.
In recent weeks, the capital has been gripped by a veritable psychosis: the fear of carrying bedbugs and bringing them home with you. Fortunately, these tiny creatures don't carry any disease, but they do invade homes and make it very difficult to get rid of them, causing material and, above all, psychological damage. After discovering them in Paris cinemas, some Internet users report having seen them on TGVs, RER B and C trains, the Metro 8, and even some buses. People in the Paris region have almost stopped sitting down on public transport!
At the moment
Professionals are overwhelmed and have never had so many requests, according to France Info, and the municipality has asked the government for an emergency plan, less than a year away from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Virtually eradicated in the 1950s, bed bugs are more numerous with globalization, and the resumption of travel since the end of the Covid hasn't helped the problem. Over the last 5 years, one household in ten has been affected by an infestation.
Pending a large-scale plan, Paris City Council has announced that it will reimburse the cost of disinfecting homes, for the most modest households. Because getting rid of them yourself is very difficult, and the prices charged by professionals are not accessible to everyone. Clément Beaune, the French Minister of Transport, has announced that he will be calling a meeting this week with"transport operators, to inform them of the actions they have taken, and to do more to serve travellers". But beware of psychosis, because not every insect caught on camera is a bedbug!
To ease the financial burden on households,the city's first deputy mayor would like to include the risk of being infested by these pests - a real public health problem - in home insurance policies.
How to recognize a bedbug
Oval in shape, 4 to 7 millimeters long, bedbugs are generally brown in color. The female is rounder and more dangerous, laying hundreds of eggs very quickly! Bed bugs feed exclusively on blood, but don't jump, fly or live on us. They hate light and cold, and hide in dark, narrow, inaccessible places, making them very difficult to find.
They generally bite at night, or when the body has rested for several hours and the heartbeat has calmed down. It attacks every 3 or 4 days, but if you're infested, there's no doubt you'll be bitten every night. On the other hand, you may well be unaware of this, as not everyone reacts to a sting! It only stings on uncovered areas like arms and legs, but it's good to know that your hair makes it harder to get at.
What do pimples look like? They are grouped together in the same area, usually in a row, forming a sort of red crater, and are particularly itchy if you're sensitive to them. To find out if you're infested, look at your mattress, at the seams, on the slats or slots of the box spring, but also at baseboards, wall sockets and nooks and crannies in general, where they like to hide. You'll see discreet traces of blood on the sheets if they bite you, and concentrations of black or brown spots on the mattress.
Getting rid of them
As they evolve, bed bugs are resistant to many chemical products. That's why those sold in supermarkets will have little impact, and those used by professionals are dangerous but highly effective, so they're the only ones qualified to handle them. To avoid bringing them home, avoid books and second-hand furniture, and take care not to put your suitcase on your bed, while washing your clothes at a temperature of at least 60 degrees.
As a reminder, bed bugs are not linked to a lack of hygiene, since they feed on blood rather than waste, so anyone can be affected. Although they don't transmit any diseases, they can trigger depression, post-traumatic stress and sleep disorders. To get rid of them, don't throw away your furniture - you'll have to buy new ones when the infestation isn't over - but call in a certified professional to save effort and money.
Fortunately, bed bugs are less active in winter, so we should see the end of this problem soon, if temperatures finally drop, as climate change is not helping their eradication. While there's no miracle solution to avoid them, essential oils of lavender, tea tree and citronella will repel them to a certain extent. Beware of diatomaceous earth, which can cause health problems for both humans and animals.
