France is under attack from bedbugs. Videos on social media show the bugs crawling around the Paris metro, in cinemas and at Paris' main airport. Paris' deputy mayor said the tiny creatures are growing in number. The government is acting to deal with a "widespread" rise. He also said: "Obviously, there are risk factors, but, you can catch bedbugs anywhere in the world and bring them home."
France's bedbug problem is not new. Three years ago, there was a campaign to cut their numbers. However, the blood-sucking insects rose in number. There is a new plan to cut bug populations, ahead of the Paris Olympics. Fumigation companies will help to kill the bugs. The deputy mayor said the Olympics would be OK. He said: "Bedbugs existed before and they will exist afterwards." An expert said bedbugs were an "emerging phenomenon" everywhere.
Try the same news story at these levels:
Bedbugs - Level 5 or Bedbugs - Level 6
Sources- https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/30/europe/france-bedbugs-paris-intl-hnk/index.html
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/29/bedbug-crisis-political-row-paris-insect-scourge-continues
- https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/france-races-stamp-out-bedbug-scourge-before-olympics-2023-09-29/
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