Bedbug Infestation in France

France, the country that has recently dealt with a rat infestation, is now facing a new issue: bedbugs.

As tourism bounces back after the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a rise in the spread of bedbugs, which can easily be transported via luggage and clothing (Reuters). Not only can they be found in beds, but they appear in various modes of transportation such as trains and metro systems (NYT). While videos of bedbug sightings have gained widespread attention on the internet, many claim that these videos have been falsified, with people mistaking other insects for bedbugs. Romain Morzaderc, a French pest-control officer stated that, “in 99% of cases, yes there are nasty black insects, but no, they are not bedbugs.” Furthermore, Clément Beaune, a Transport Minister, claimed that of the almost 50 reported bedbug sightings on the metro and trains, they were unable to verify a single one of them (BBC).