Bed bugs in Paris and what you should know

Thu, 05 Oct 2023

Charlie Morrey reports:

If you like I have just had your winter skive plans to Paris, slightly well, scuppered because of the bed bug situation then here’s what the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) want you to know:

•           Bed bugs need blood to reproduce and feed from people at night;

•           Bed bugs can hitch a ride on almost anything including luggage, clothes and even electronics;

•           Bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases; however, people can be allergic to their bites;

•           Bed bugs can go into a state of diapause, meaning they can last months without a meal (good for them), making them great international travellers.

BPCA say that if you find bed bugs, there are a few things you can try to remove the bugs and eggs from your luggage, clothing and bedding.

Wash everything at a hot (60°C) temperature setting; tumble dry at a hot setting for at least 30 minutes; dry clean everything; or place everything into a bag and then in the deep freezer for at least three days.

As for treatment; the BPCA recommend you act immediately by contacting a professional pest management company as self-treatment of a bed bug infestation with amateur pesticides is highly unlikely to be successful, and failed treatments will occur if accurate knowledge of the bed bug is absent.

Truth be told for me it looks like my girls trip (if it makes out the group chat) will now be rerouting as I personally couldn’t think of anything worse than the little freeloaders using me as a host to feed from.

May I add that this bed bug problem overseas makes our local spider surge seem not so awful. - Charlie

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