**We asked Jean-Michel Bérenger, an entomologist for a medical research center in Marseille, to provide answers to reader questions concerning the ‘major upsurge’ in bedbug infestations in the count**
The Paris City Hall spoke of a “major upsurge” in bedbugs in Paris and the French government is preparing a specific plan of action with transport companies. In light of these recent decisions and panicked public reactions to stories of bedbugs infestation on social media, Le Monde has asked Jean-Michel Bérenger, an entomologist at the IHU (medical research center connected to hospitals) in Marseille, to answer reader questions on the issue.
**Sylvie:** Where are the bedbugs located across mainland France? Are all cities affected?
**Jean-Michel Berenger**:Hello Sylvie,The whole country could be affected, and bedbugs can be found wherever people go. To put it simply, we have a Paris-Lyon-Marseille axis and a Toulouse-Bordeaux one. Big cities that local populations and tourists move through are “favored,” that’s for sure.
**JA**: Are we able to quantify the “upsurge” referred to by the Paris City Hall?
We’re basing our analysis on growth in the activity of pest control and dog detection companies, and indeed, their business has been increasing over the last two years.
**Craintif**: What’s causing this sudden spread of bedbugs?
The spread has been going on for years now. There was a lull with the lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, then an upturn over the last two years with tourism back in full swing as people want to enjoy themselves.
**Paris 02**: Which treatments are appropriate in the event of infestation?
Focus on mechanical and physical pest control, using vacuum cleaners, steam or diatomaceous earth in aerosol sprays. No supermarket-bought chemicals, however!
**Marcel**: How long without feeding does it take for bedbugs to die? It could also be a solution, when possible, to leave your home and wait until they run out of food…
They can survive for several months, or even a year, without feeding.
**Toutvabien**: Isn’t all this panic ridiculous? People are afraid of everything, usually out of ignorance. Are there any serious indicators – beyond the news – that show that the country’s hygienic conditions have deteriorated to an unsustainable level? Shouldn’t we simply roll out a health and prevention campaign, to inform and raise awareness in the general population, and to teach simple actions to do (how to check for bedbugs when arriving at your hotel room, what to do if you’ve been bitten outside your home…), and all will be well?
It’s true that bedbugs are currently “infesting” social networks and the media. What promotes their spread is our lifestyles, as well as mismanagement of infestations and impoverishment, which means that many people don’t have the resources to fight this problem.
8 comments
Ew
**We asked Jean-Michel Bérenger, an entomologist for a medical research center in Marseille, to provide answers to reader questions concerning the ‘major upsurge’ in bedbug infestations in the count**
The Paris City Hall spoke of a “major upsurge” in bedbugs in Paris and the French government is preparing a specific plan of action with transport companies. In light of these recent decisions and panicked public reactions to stories of bedbugs infestation on social media, Le Monde has asked Jean-Michel Bérenger, an entomologist at the IHU (medical research center connected to hospitals) in Marseille, to answer reader questions on the issue.
**Sylvie:** Where are the bedbugs located across mainland France? Are all cities affected?
**Jean-Michel Berenger**:Hello Sylvie,The whole country could be affected, and bedbugs can be found wherever people go. To put it simply, we have a Paris-Lyon-Marseille axis and a Toulouse-Bordeaux one. Big cities that local populations and tourists move through are “favored,” that’s for sure.
**JA**: Are we able to quantify the “upsurge” referred to by the Paris City Hall?
We’re basing our analysis on growth in the activity of pest control and dog detection companies, and indeed, their business has been increasing over the last two years.
**Craintif**: What’s causing this sudden spread of bedbugs?
The spread has been going on for years now. There was a lull with the lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, then an upturn over the last two years with tourism back in full swing as people want to enjoy themselves.
**Paris 02**: Which treatments are appropriate in the event of infestation?
Focus on mechanical and physical pest control, using vacuum cleaners, steam or diatomaceous earth in aerosol sprays. No supermarket-bought chemicals, however!
**Marcel**: How long without feeding does it take for bedbugs to die? It could also be a solution, when possible, to leave your home and wait until they run out of food…
They can survive for several months, or even a year, without feeding.
**Toutvabien**: Isn’t all this panic ridiculous? People are afraid of everything, usually out of ignorance. Are there any serious indicators – beyond the news – that show that the country’s hygienic conditions have deteriorated to an unsustainable level? Shouldn’t we simply roll out a health and prevention campaign, to inform and raise awareness in the general population, and to teach simple actions to do (how to check for bedbugs when arriving at your hotel room, what to do if you’ve been bitten outside your home…), and all will be well?
It’s true that bedbugs are currently “infesting” social networks and the media. What promotes their spread is our lifestyles, as well as mismanagement of infestations and impoverishment, which means that many people don’t have the resources to fight this problem.
**Read the full Q&A by clicking on this link**: [https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2023/10/03/bedbugs-in-france-they-can-be-found-wherever-people-go_6145485_114.html](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2023/10/03/bedbugs-in-france-they-can-be-found-wherever-people-go_6145485_114.html)
Scary. Please eliminate them ASAP, I don’t want this to spread to other parts of Europe.
We need a systemic insecticide for humans.
All the Rugby World Cup tourists bringing them back to their respective countries
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so this is what french vampires actually are eh?
We need to mass deport this bloody bedbugs.