Eurostar says cleaners will step up disinfecting during France bed bug invasion
Eurostar is fighting the threat of a bed bug invasion from France by stepping up its cleaning regime.
Over recent days those visiting Paris and watching the city from afar via social media have reacted in horror to increasingly skin crawling videos of the bed bugs. Stomach churning clips have shown the lining of bed clothes invested with the blood-sucking critters.
Some Parisians have reportedly taken to standing on the metro for fear of being bitten by the mites, which some clips suggest have made a home for themselves in the warm, dirty seats of the city's public transport system.
In recent summers outbreaks of the night-time predators have been getting worse in Paris. The growing numbers are helping to whip up the public, with many suffering from 'bed bug' panic. Some of those lucky enough to be free from the six-legged chompers are waking up in the middle of the night feeling itchy and uncomfortable, fearful that they're next.
With one of the main bridges between the UK and the City of Love/Bed Bugs being Eurostar, it makes sense that the high speed rail service is taking action. On Tuesday confirmed it was ramping up “preventative treatments” across its entire network to keep the critters on the other side of the Channel, the Independent reported.
Insect blamed for mystery rise in life-changing illness that alters eye colour
The train company has stepped up its cleaning regime (Getty Images)A spokesperson told the publication that bedbugs on its trains are "extremely rare", and said that the textile surfaces on all of our trains are cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis". They added that "cleaning teams, in addition to the usual cleaning, will also disinfect a train on request or as soon as there is the slightest doubt".
Bedbugs are small brown insects, close in size to apple seeds, that hide in mattresses and box springs and emerge at night to bite and feed on blood. They often then crawl rapidly to clothing and luggage, hence them spreading to other areas such as public transport.
They are also a large economic strain, with it costing an average of €866 (£750) per household to eradicate and an annual national average of €230 million (£199m). In August, someone posted pictures on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, showing what she said were markings on her body from bed bugs in her seat at a Paris cinema.
Roughly 1 in 10 French households were infested with bedbugs between 2017 and 2022, according to a recent survey from the French health agency ANSES. The report said: "Bed bugs are a costly nuisance for households in metropolitan France, considering the expense of treatment and the psychological impact." It added that bedbugs are not known to transmit disease when they bite humans, but they are associated with a lower quality of life, sleep disorders and mental health issues.
A dermatologist shared his top tops to not taking bed bugs home with you. "Always check the crevices of your hotel mattress as soon as you check in", said dermatologist Dr Shah, also known as Dermdoctor on TikTok.
It's important to look out for the key signs that you have a bed bug issue, including eggs, blood stains and shell casings. This is a good way to check you won't be dealing with bed bugs before you settle down, and you can even alert the hotel to see if you can change for a bed bug-free room instead.
Dr Shah also suggested storing your suitcase "as far away from your bed as possible" to minimise the travelling distance between the bed bugs and your luggage. "Always keep your dirty laundry in Ziploc bags", he added. You could use luggage liners, to protect clothes from bed bugs, or Ziploc bags if you're worried you have definitely come in contact with them.
Storing dirty clothes in plastic bags is a tried and tested way to keep bed bugs at bay. According to experts from Nomad Paradise : "Bedbugs are attracted to the smell of your dirty laundry. Therefore, bring a plastic bag with you in which to store your dirty laundry. That way, you'll know there are no dirty clothes around the bed that could attract bed bugs."
One flight attendant suggested spraying the outside of your bag for dust mites and bed bugs. Dust mite and bedbug killer sprays can be bought online or from DIY and home stores, and can protect the exterior of your luggage to keep bed bugs at bay.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
