(RepublicanJournal.org) – An infestation of bed bugs has swept across Paris, taking over the French hot spot and terrorizing residents. The blood-sucking pests have become an increasing problem across Europe — as well as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom — but Paris Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire insists that “no one is safe” in his city.
Gregoire wants Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne to act now, according to TIME, stating the city leader has described the infestation as a “scourge” that could easily affect Paris’ preparations for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic games. He also told people to remain calm, promising that the games themselves were under no threat and asking residents to work together to help resolve the problem.
France 24 reports that bed bugs had fallen off most Europeans’ radars by the 1950s, but denser city populations and increases in mass transit have brought the creatures back with a vengeance. The publication adds that roughly one in 10 households has had to deal with at least one infestation, which can be expensive to treat and may require more than one attempt to eradicate.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that bed bugs can become a problem anywhere, even 5-star hotels, with personal cleanliness not a factor in where they take hold. They’re most common in places where people sleep, such as bedrooms, hotels, dorms, cruise ships, resorts, and trains. The tiny, flat, reddish-brown bugs tend to make their homes in box springs, dressers, behind wallpaper, and in clutter, and they’re willing to travel up to 100 feet in search of a meal.
The best way to prevent an infestation is to inspect for signs of them and avoid setting down luggage or purses where the creatures could be present. Bed bugs can fit in crevices and folds, quietly transporting themselves on bags and clothing then quickly taking hold from one home or business to the next.
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