What to Know About Paris Tackling the Bedbug Crisis Ahead of the Olympics
Reports of a bedbug outbreak in Paris, where I live, have been making headlines in France since the summer. Recently, the news has garnered global attention as the fashion elite have flocked to the city for Paris Fashion Week. Additionally, Paris and its suburbs are hosting the Rugby World Cup until the end of the month, and concerns are already being raised in anticipation of the Paris Olympics next summer.
Bedbug sightings have been reported on Paris metro lines (though the operator RATP has investigated and found no evidence of bedbugs so far), the Eurostar from London to Paris, high-speed TGV trains, several Paris cinemas, and even the waiting area at Charles de Gaulle Airport for travelers denied entry.
The infestation of public spaces has prompted France’s Transport Minister to convene a meeting with transportation operators this week, and the city of Paris is urging the state to create a national strategy to combat the “scourge” affecting the city.
“No one is safe. There are risk factors, but the reality is you can pick up bedbugs anywhere and bring them home,” Deputy Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said on French TV.
France’s public health agency estimates that 11 percent of households were infested between 2017 and 2022.
Since learning about the outbreak affecting public spaces, I’ve developed a new habit of thoroughly inspecting restaurant seats before sitting and standing on the metro.
Although I’ve paused one of my favorite weekend activities, thrifting, I used to be extra cautious by avoiding contact with items, storing purchases in sealed plastic bags, and washing and drying any new textile items at the highest temperature as soon as I got home.
While I’m not letting these bloodsucking insects stop me from going out, I’m being vigilant to minimize the risk of bringing them home, and visitors should do the same.
What you need to know about the outbreak, and how to protect yourself
First and foremost, French health experts emphasize that there is no proven connection between a household’s income or cleanliness and the presence of bedbugs. These pests are indiscriminate; they’re simply after blood—literally.
According to a government report published this past summer, the surge in bedbug cases is primarily attributed to increased international travel, rising resistance to insecticides, and second-hand shops. In other words, bedbugs often hitch a ride in our luggage and thrifted purchases.
What do bedbugs look like?
Watch for flat, wingless brown insects about the size of an apple seed. Bedbugs neither jump nor fly. Their eggs are white and resemble lice.
If you’re staying in an Airbnb or hotel, check for their droppings, which appear as small black dots on mattresses, bed frames, and corners of walls. Red or dark brown spots might indicate crushed, blood-fed bedbugs.
If you wake up with clusters of three to four red, itchy, blotchy patches that resemble mosquito bites on your face, arms, legs, or back, you may be in infested accommodations.
Bedbugs are skilled at hiding in mattresses, sofas, carpets, and skirting boards. They feed at night and can bite up to 90 times in a single night, though they do not transmit disease.
What to do (and not do) at your hotel
- The top rule is to never leave your suitcase or clothes on the bed or the floor. Always store your bags on a luggage rack and keep them closed. If there’s no luggage rack available, place your suitcase in the bathtub or on any other hard surface that is elevated off the floor.
- Conduct a thorough visual inspection of the room. Pull back the covers and examine both the top and underside of the mattress, the headboard, curtains, couches, and baseboards for bugs, red or brown stains, and droppings.
After your trip
- The same rule applies when you get home: avoid placing luggage on beds, armchairs, or sofas.
- Unpack in the bathroom and shake out your clothing in the shower or bathtub. Carefully inspect the contents of your suitcase.
- Wash all clothing, whether worn or not, in hot water at a minimum of 140°F (60°C) and dry everything on the highest setting for at least 30 minutes.
- Vacuum both the inside and outside of your suitcase, and be sure to discard the vacuum bag in a tightly sealed plastic bag.
- Store your suitcase in the basement or garage, or in a sealed plastic bin, but never under the bed.
Other travel tips
- Hardshell suitcases are preferable to soft ones because bedbugs can burrow into fabric materials.
- Pack your belongings in resealable bags and keep them closed throughout your travels.