Paris suffers a plague of bedbugs in public transport, cinemas and hospitals

France, and especially Paris, is suffering from an infestation of bed bugs that appear especially in the seat upholstery of public transport, such as trains or airplanes, and even in cinemas and hospitals.

As reported by the Daily Mail, the networks have been filled with videos in which public transport users record these insects in places such as the Paris metro, high-speed trains and Charles-de-Gaulle airport in Paris. .

Transport Minister Clément Beaune has said he would convene representatives of public transport operators next week “to inform them about countermeasures and how to do more to protect commuters”.

Bed bugs, which had largely disappeared from everyday life in the 1950s, have reemerged in recent decades, primarily due to high population densities and increased public transportation.

It is estimated that a tenth of French homes have had a bed bug problem in recent years, which usually requires a pest control operation costing several hundred euros and having to be repeated often.

Paris city hall on Thursday urged President Emmanuel Macron's government to help with the infestation, including by creating a dedicated task force.

France's national health agency recommended that people check their hotel beds when traveling and be careful when bringing second-hand furniture or used mattresses into their homes.

Bed bugs have a habit of nesting in mattresses, although they can also hide in clothing and luggage. They come out at night to feed on human blood.

Their bites leave red areas, blisters or large rashes on the skin, which can cause intense itching or allergic reactions.. They also often cause psychological distress, sleep problems, anxiety and depression.

According to French authorities, the appearance of the insects, which can grow up to about 7 millimeters long, is not related to hygiene levels.