Since October last year, Paris has been at the epicentre of a bedbug infestation plaguing France. With the capital due to host the 2024 Olympic Games in just a matter of months, hotels are stepping up their efforts to combat the issue.
The tiny parasitic insects started making headlines in October 2023, after they were frequently spotted in hotels and Airbnbs as well as public areas, including cinemas, on the metro and at Charles de Gaulle Airport.
No more than 8 mm long, bedbugs infiltrate bedding, fabrics, and even seats on public transport, where they bite humans and further spread the infestation.
Fears rapidly arose that the French public transport system enabled the bugs to spread across Europe. Soon after, Eurostar assured that cases of bedbugs are very rare on its trains, but still confirmed it was implementing additional cleaning measures. Months later, the epidemic is still not under control.
Avoiding negative reviews
The Olympics will take place from 26 July to 11 August in Paris, followed by the Paralympics from 29 August to 8 September, raising concerns about how to tackle the infestation in time.
In October, the city's deputy mayor Emmanuel Grégoire told French TV station LCI that there is no threat to the Olympic Games, adding that "bedbugs existed before and they will exist afterwards." But the bloodsuckers are known to love crowds and an increase in visitors could well exacerbate the issue.
Parisian hotels are therefore deploying pest control companies en masse to detect potential bedbug infestations ahead of the major sporting event, Le Parisien reported on Wednesday. Keen to avoid negative reviews, including photos of bedbugs, on booking websites, many establishments are conducting preventative room inspections.
Room inspections cost about €30, allowing early infestations to be spotted before large waves of tourists arrive. However, the financial burden of dealing with infestations is significant. Detected bedbug presences need to be tackled with steam treatment, as they have also become resistant to almost all market-available insecticides. In some cases, this can cost thousands of euros.
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People travelling in France are advised to check for bedbugs themselves when staying in hotels or rented accommodation. This can be done by removing the sheets and checking the crevices and seams of the mattress. Signs of bedbugs include small black dots, indicating bedbug faeces, or blood stains. If the bed has a headboard, this should also be checked.
They can also hide in upholstered surfaces such as chairs, sofas and carpets, so the same telltale signs could be found here. Bedbugs can also leave stains on walls and behind picture frames. The bugs themselves are small and brown or maroon in colour. They are often transported in the seams of suitcases, so closing luggage can help prevent further spread.
