Paris is currently in a panic over these creepy crawlies, Kosovo is showing drone footage of Serbian paramilitary training

Small and biting and difficult to remove, bed bugs have suddenly become a big talking point in France and also a concern for the government.

It all started during the summer holidays, when there was a commotion about bedbugs in a Parisian cinema. After a visitor told the newspaper ‘Le Parisien’ how she left the room with her back full of bites, cinema chain UGC was forced to apologize. The insects appear wherever people are and are fought against. Hot steam is used and a dog specialized in insects then inspects the rooms, it was said.

Reports on the annoying subject, including photos of bed bugs under the magnifying glass, have apparently turned parts of the population into real bed bug detectives.

Social networks are full of possible bedbug photos

Alleged bugs are being reported on social media, including shaky video footage. “Ten to fifteen minutes before I arrived in Lille-Flandres, I saw a small beetle running around on the seat,” said passenger Irina, describing her journey on the TGV high-speed train to broadcaster BFMTV. “I wondered if it was a bed bug. I filmed it and sent it to two friends, who confirmed it to me.” A young passenger also posted a suspected bug from a train from Marseille to Paris.

The bug videos viewed millions of times have brought the state railway SNCF onto the scene. It was said that there had been no confirmed presence of bedbugs on TGV trains in recent months. “This is a risk for which we are particularly vigilant, we take every report seriously and no risks are taken,” SNCF said. The trains would be consistently disinfected with insects in mind.

Bed bugs in Paris trains and metro?

Last Wednesday there was a bug report from the heart chamber of capital life, the Paris metro. A driver on route 8 was certain he had discovered one of the parasites in the driver’s cabin. Transport company RATP reported that the train had been taken out of service, but that no bugs had actually been found on the train or other means of transport. But the city council, the union and politicians had been involved for a long time.

“The state must urgently bring together all relevant stakeholders to develop an action plan that can tackle this scourge as the whole of France prepares to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024,” wrote the first deputy of the mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Gregoire Prime. Minister Elisabeth Borne. Considering the bugs, you don’t have to fall into psychosis, but you do have to face the problem, the local politician said in a TV interview.

People need to calm down and protect themselves

As for public transport, Transport Minister Clément Beaune discussed the bug issue on Friday. Beaune said he would discuss the measures taken to serve travelers with the transport companies next week. It’s about reassuring and protecting people.

The insects suck blood and live in inhabited, enclosed spaces. They hide in beds, furniture joints or cracks. For example, they are transported to other places in luggage, but also via worn clothing. Their bite can cause severe itching. Experts recommend checking for bed bugs in hotel beds in advance and shaking out luggage and clothing in the shower when you return home.