France Battles to Stop the Spread of Bedbugs

​France battles to stop spread of bedbugs

​France is coming under attack from a tiny menace – the bedbug. Many videos have been posted on social media with footage of the bugs crawling around in trains on the Paris metro. Sightings have also been reported in cinemas, museums, and even at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport. Emmanuel Gregoire, the deputy mayor of Paris, admitted there was a proliferation of the minute creatures. He reassured people by saying his government was taking action to deal with the "widespread" rise in bedbugs. He also said: "You have to understand that in reality, no one is safe. Obviously, there are risk factors, but, you can catch bedbugs anywhere in the world and bring them home."

​France's bedbug problem is not new. Three years ago, the government launched an antibedbug campaign to reduce the incidences of infestations in cities. However, despite introducing several measures, the numbers of the bloodsucking insects have surged. A new initiative is being introduced to cut bug populations, ahead of the Paris Olympics in 2024. This includes hiring fumigation companies to help exterminate the bugs. Mr Gregoire said: "There is no threat to the Olympic Games." He said: "Bedbugs existed before and they will exist afterwards." A sanitation expert agreed. She said the problem was, "an emerging phenomenon…almost everywhere in the world".

Multiple Choice

People posted videos on social media of bedbugs attacking people.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Bedbugs are arriving in France through international airports.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Paris' deputy mayor said there was no bedbug problem.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Paris' deputy mayor said bedbugs are all over the world.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

France had an anti-bedbug drive three years ago.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The article called bedbugs 'blood-sucking' insects.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Paris' deputy mayor said bedbugs would be a problem at the Olympics.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

A sanitation expert said bedbugs were decreasing worldwide.

• True

• False