The scourge of bedbugs exploded in 2020, but why?

According to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for rat control, insect control and disinfection, between 2019 and 2020, interventions against bedbugs have increased by 76%.

After the Seven Plagues of Egypt, bedbugs … A scourge in everyone's daily life that is growing year after year. In an article in Le Parisien, published on December 21, the interventions of professionals for bedbugs increased significantly in France in 2020. They thus increased by 76% across the country, declares the Chambre Syndicale des Métiers rat control, disinsection and disinfection (CS3D). The pest is spreading everywhere: housing, hotels, public transport, movie theaters and even retirement homes. Already in the 2018/2019 period, meetings to eradicate the insect had increased by 30%.

A lack of information

Romain Lasseur, doctor in toxicology and specialist in the behavior of invasive species, tells the Parisian that this unprecedented data has two explanations: "people do not immediately identify that they are dealing with bedbugs, because there is a lack of information ", and there is "a difficulty to eradicate" these critters. Bad news, the year 2021 could be synonymous with bedbugs. "Bedbugs can go for months without feeding so when everything reopens once the health crisis has passed, we should expect a peak of infestations ", alert Stéphane Bras, meanwhile, spokesperson for the union.

Read also: Is your region affected by bedbugs?

Physical and psychological consequences

A study by Inserm and the Sorbonne, dating from July 27, 2020, showed that more than 70,000 consultations with doctors in one year in metropolitan France were due to bedbugs. And 98% of the cases were skin lesions, caused by bedbug bites, the latter feeding on blood. In addition, it should be noted that these little animals also cause significant psychological damage, going as far as depression. "39% of patients who consulted suffered from insomnia and 39% felt that the infestation had had an impact on their professional, family or social life", detailed the analysis.

The government takes this fight against bedbugs very seriously and has launched an issue where the right actions are provided in the event of an invasion: the 0806.706.806, so than the stop-punaises.gouv.fr site. "Bedbugs make life complicated and the solutions are complex to implement, you feel helpless. It's a support campaign", insisted Julien Denormandie on BFMTV in February 2020. Remember that to get rid of these invasive bugs, it is advisable to wash your sheets or other bedding and clothes at a temperature above at least 60 ° C, or to freeze them in bags -trash at -20 ° C for at least 72 hours. In the event of persistent pests, it is necessary to call on professionals who are familiar with the field in terms of detection and disinsection.

Celine Peschard

Journalist who likes the versatility that his job can offer. Specialized in the historical field, societal subjects and auteur films, against a background of electronic music. University curriculum based …