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France battles to stop spread of bedbugs

Bedbugs - Level 4

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.

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Bedbugs - Level 5

France is under attack from the bedbug. Video footage on social media shows the bugs crawling around on the Paris metro. Sightings have also been reported in cinemas and at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport. The deputy mayor of Paris said there was a proliferation of the tiny creatures. He said his government was acting to deal with the "widespread" rise in bedbugs. He also said: "You have to understand that in reality, no one is safe. 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 reduce infestations in cities. However, despite different measures, the numbers of the blood-sucking insects surged. There is a new initiative to cut bug populations, ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. This includes fumigation companies helping to exterminate the bugs. The deputy mayor said there was no threat to the Olympics. He said: "Bedbugs existed before and they will exist afterwards." A sanitation expert agreed, saying the problem was, "an emerging phenomenon…almost everywhere".

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Bedbugs - Level 6

France is coming under attack from a tiny menace – the bedbug. Many videos have been posted on social media with footage of the bugs crawling around in trains on the Paris metro. Sightings have also been reported in cinemas, museums, and even at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport. Emmanuel Gregoire, the deputy mayor of Paris, admitted there was a proliferation of the minute creatures. He reassured people by saying his government was taking action to deal with the "widespread" rise in bedbugs. He also said: "You have to understand that in reality, no one is safe. 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, the government launched an anti-bedbug campaign to reduce the incidences of infestations in cities. However, despite introducing several measures, the numbers of the blood-sucking insects have surged. A new initiative is being introduced to cut bug populations, ahead of the Paris Olympics in 2024. This includes hiring fumigation companies to help exterminate the bugs. Mr Gregoire said: "There is no threat to the Olympic Games." He said: "Bedbugs existed before and they will exist afterwards." A sanitation expert agreed. She said the problem was, "an emerging phenomenon…almost everywhere in the world".

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25 online activities    |    27-page printable    |    2-page mini-lesson