Bedbugs: the government says it is “mobilized” and is monitoring the situation “very closely”

2023-10-06 16:49:46

The government is “at work”. At the end of an interministerial meeting on the issue of bedbugs, a government source assured that “all ministries” were “at work and mobilized on this subject”. The insect situation is being monitored “very closely”, added this source, after this two-hour meeting this Friday morning in Matignon, intended to establish “an inventory”.

“We have gone from a current issue that worries the French to a subject on which the government is working and mobilizing to establish the findings and provide necessary solutions, either already existing or new,” she continued. . She also stressed that “many things already exist” to combat pests.

The objective of this “working” meeting, which could “call for others”, “was to exchange views between each other to find out where the ministries concerned were in their areas, in terms of findings and solutions”.

Olivier Véran had promised “decisions and directions”

Government spokesperson Olivier Véran had, however, promised that this meeting would result in “decisions and guidelines” in order to “respond to the legitimate anxiety of the French” regarding bedbugs, which are the subject of concern. growing in public opinion. The executive has found itself under pressure with the increase in recent weeks in reports of bed bugs in public places.

Algeria, for example, announced on Friday the implementation of “preventive measures” to prevent any spread. Teachers at a Parisian high school, the Lycée Elisa Lemonnier in the 12th arrondissement, asserted their right to withdraw on Thursday after the discovery of bedbugs in their establishment.

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Clément Beaune assured Wednesday that there was “no increase” in the presence of bedbugs in public transport. The Minister for Transport had asked operators to publish data on reported cases “every three months”.

Although the Minister of Health, Aurélien Rousseau, said Tuesday that “this is not a reason for general panic”, the problem is generating political friction with left-wing oppositions who are demanding more determined action against these parasites.