① Bedbug Infestations in France Now Reported in South Korea
Bedbug infestations have been reported in various parts of South Korea. The number of reported bedbug cases continues to rise. The number of suspected bedbug reports from across the country has exceeded dozens. As of the 6th, about 30 suspected bedbug reports have been received in 17 cities and provinces nationwide. The government has announced that it will operate a four-week concentrated bedbug inspection and pest control period starting the 13th.
In South Korea, bedbugs disappeared after the 1970s due to the use of pesticides and improvements in sanitation. However, reports of bedbug sightings started coming in from the mid-2000s. The bedbugs currently infesting the country are resistant to existing pesticides, so the quarantine authorities are considering alternative pesticides.
Recently, there were reports of bedbug infestations in Paris, France, ahead of the Olympics, which sparked a lot of discussions. Not only in Europe but also in South Korea, the situation is serious as bedbugs continue to be found. Significantly, France, preparing for the Olympics, is in a state of emergency due to the bedbug infestations. The war against bedbugs in Paris began in earnest last August.
Initially, the Paris city and French governments stated that “no bedbugs were found in the reported cases.” Still, cases of bites have been reported in trains and movie theaters. The Paris city government and the Emmanuel Macron administration in France have called for action to eradicate bedbugs.
Currently, France is facing a national emergency due to the bedbug infestations. As public health issues in France surface, the authorities investigate with detection dogs. The French authorities conducted a massive bedbug eradication campaign in 2020.
In France, bedbugs almost disappeared from daily life in the 1950s. With the resurgence of bedbugs, they were found in about 400,000 places in 2018 alone. In Paris alone, there were over 100,000 cases of bedbug infestations. Once again, they are causing headaches due to bedbugs.
② Mattresses Abandoned on the Streets
Numerous reports of insects have been suspected to be bedbugs in public places such as the Paris subway, high-speed trains, and airports in France. In early September, posts and testimonies of people who saw bedbugs and were bitten by them at several locations of the large theater chains MK2 and UGC in Paris spread.
One citizen who boarded a train filmed a bedbug stuck to a seat and posted it on social media. The post recorded over 7 million views on the same day. French people say it’s safer to stand than sit on public transportation seats and get bitten by bedbugs.
The French Minister of Transport, Clément Beaune, held an emergency meeting and announced that “detection dogs will be deployed to investigate whether there are bedbugs on trains and the Paris subway.” He added that “all public transport operators will strengthen overall quarantine procedures” and “deploying detection dogs is the most effective method.” In the past, the United States also deployed beagles with an excellent sense of smell as detection dogs to eradicate bedbugs in New York.
In a middle school in Marseille, southern France, classes were suspended due to the appearance of bedbugs in the classroom. Local media referred to the bedbug infestation as a “domestic terror.”
Currently, mattresses can be commonly seen abandoned on the streets of France. They are scattered around major cities like Paris and Marseille. These are mattresses discarded by people due to the fear of bedbugs. Bedbugs are mainly found in beds, wardrobes, carpets, etc.
There was even a story of a French person who sold his house due to suffering from bedbugs. Now, many passengers on the Paris subway check seat covers or stand. Bedbug reports that started in Paris are spreading to major cities in France.
③ Spread to Various Parts of Europe After Paris
In France, many people are suffering from ‘bedbug neurosis.’ When bitten by a bedbug, symptoms appear pretty different from mosquito bites. Severe itching and swelling can cause serious pain. It can even lead to insomnia.
Since it is impossible to eradicate bedbugs in ordinary homes, it is difficult to remove them once they appear. After Paris, France, bedbugs also started appearing in London, UK. The number of bedbugs in the UK this year has increased by 65% compared to last year. The fear of bedbugs is spreading across Europe.
There have been many travelers who were bitten by bedbugs during their trips to Europe. Due to the surge in bedbug infestations, some people have canceled their trips to Europe. This fear of bedbugs continues in South Korea, increasing the number of people living in fear.
By. Seo Sung Min
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