Blood sucking bed bugs making a home in Paris
Source: Agencies |
November 18, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TINY, bloodthirsty and relentless, the insect pest that became a nightmare for millions of New Yorkers has found its way to Paris, spreading fear of an outbreak that could turn into the ultimate tourism-killer.
Bed bugs, known in French as "punaises de lit," or "bed drawing pins," were a rarity in France three years ago, less prevalent in homes than mice or cockroaches and well under the radar of public health officials. No longer.
An employee at the public health section of Paris' City Hall said more than 600 places in the city have needed treating for bed bug infection so far this year.
While the city is playing down the extent of the problem, rejecting the term "invasion," exterminators said bed bugs were spreading quickly throughout the city.
"Let's say it started in 2007," said Reynald Boudet, owner of the Aurouze extermination shop in Paris. "Back then we had ten requests per year. Now it's more like 100 ... We are getting more and more orders for (extermination) products from all over the country."
Travelers from the United States and Canada had probably acted as hosts for the tiny parasites, which lodge in fabric and feed on human blood at night.
Bed bugs are a headache for thousands of New Yorkers since an unstoppable invasion left them with itchy and unsightly red welts.
Bed bugs, known in French as "punaises de lit," or "bed drawing pins," were a rarity in France three years ago, less prevalent in homes than mice or cockroaches and well under the radar of public health officials. No longer.
An employee at the public health section of Paris' City Hall said more than 600 places in the city have needed treating for bed bug infection so far this year.
While the city is playing down the extent of the problem, rejecting the term "invasion," exterminators said bed bugs were spreading quickly throughout the city.
"Let's say it started in 2007," said Reynald Boudet, owner of the Aurouze extermination shop in Paris. "Back then we had ten requests per year. Now it's more like 100 ... We are getting more and more orders for (extermination) products from all over the country."
Travelers from the United States and Canada had probably acted as hosts for the tiny parasites, which lodge in fabric and feed on human blood at night.
Bed bugs are a headache for thousands of New Yorkers since an unstoppable invasion left them with itchy and unsightly red welts.
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