Doctors in Antwerp are sounding the alarm as bedbugs are becoming more widespread across Flanders, Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN) reports.
Bedbug cases have been widely reported across French cinemas, trains, hotels and hospitals in recent weeks, with French ministers calling for it to be recognised as a public health issue. The "scourge", as Le Monde put it, has now spread to Belgium, with some experts questioning whether the bugs are entering the country via Eurostar (Thalys) connections and even on SCNF trains. Flemish general practitioners (GPs) are denouncing the government's inaction regarding the parasite's rapid rise across the region.
"Of all our patients, around 1% suffer from bedbugs," a GP at De Regent health centre in Antwerp North, Yet Ceulemans, told HLN. She noted that the actual figure is probably much higher, however, as cases are often not officially recorded and "not all sufferers consult their GP, either out of shame or ignorance."
The exact scale of the problem in Antwerp, and by extension across Flanders and the rest of Belgium, is therefore unclear. To gain more insight into the phenomenon, the Antwerp GP Circle set up a working group on bedbugs, of which Ceulemans is a member. An initial survey was sent out to Antwerp GP practices this summer, with 11 practices indicating an exponential growth in cases.
Unaffordable solutions
These parasites, although no more than 8mm long, can infiltrate bedding, fabrics, and even seats on public transport, where they bite humans and spread the infestation to European homes. The bites cause itching and inflammation, and some people may experience severe skin reactions, especially in cases of allergies. Some may even be psychologically impacted and develop anxiety, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorders, according to HLN.
However, in principle, the bloodsucking insects are not dangerous to human health if you act quickly and correctly, Ceulemans argues. "But the problem often only becomes apparent when the bedbugs have already spread throughout the house. Fighting them then can only be done with professional extermination and that is often unaffordable for vulnerable groups," she says, with some fumigation companies charging as much as €1,000.
Ceulemans, along with other GPs, is calling on the government to intervene before it is too late. "I have already spoken to the city and the Flemish Care and Health Agency. They say that there is no danger to public health, but we should not wait until it is too late. The insects will spread to public spaces before you know it," the doctor stated.
"We are pushing for a consultation between both GPs, the City and the Flemish Care and Health Agency to see who bears what responsibility and what steps we can take together."
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Consumer rights organisation, Test Achats, stresses that bed bugs do not spread disease and have nothing to do with a lack of hygiene; they can appear anywhere. The parasites particularly thrive in places where humans sleep as "they are attracted to our body heat and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions."
The organisation advises checking accommodation thoroughly before unpacking, and being vigilant when buying second-hand. Look for bites "in lines or zigzags" on exposed parts of the body, and apply antihistamine cream or take antihistamine medication if infected.
Bedbugs are generally transported in the seams of suitcases, folded clothes, bedding and furniture. Most people do not even realise that they are carrying them and infesting other places when they travel, Test Achats warns. To prevent them from spreading, wash clothes and bedding at 60°C or freeze at -10°C or seek professional assistance.
