Intelligence officials in France are “taking seriously” the notion that Russian agents may be responsible for disseminating stories about a bedbug crisis in Paris.
Bedbugs have been making headlines in France in recent weeks, causing uneasiness among residents, politicians, and potential visitors. The genesis of the bedbug scare can be traced back to some social media posts by attendees of Paris Fashion Week, but sources in the French Military have said that some follow-up articles were posted, alleging that France’s ability to combat bedbugs were hampered by French sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The articles alleged that the insecticides designed for bedbugs were manufactured in Russia and in short supply because of the sanctions.
The reports cite the French periodical La Montagne for the article, but the French periodical denies having ever published such an article, saying the screenshots included in the social media posts highlighted by French Television station RNC were forgeries.
Surrounding countries have joined in the concern coming out of France, where the media and government have extensively covered the bedbug crisis, with politicians promising to get the “crisis” under control. Algerian officials announced in early October they would introduce “preventative measures” designed to limit the spread of bedbugs from French ships and aircraft.
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In early October, Russian propagandists also alleged that France’s bedbug problem was caused by arriving Ukrainian refugees. Those posts followed a similar playbook, with various outlets sharing doctored screenshots from French publications Le Figaro, Libération, and Contrepoints, which the outlets never published.
Local pest control companies in France have said the increase in bedbugs has been gradual, over the course of the past several years—a boon to propagandists whose most effective tools include taking small truths and blowing them out of proportion, making them difficult to completely disprove. In essence, there is a bedbug problem in Paris and other parts of France, but the problem is not as sudden, and not as widespread or as large as is being reported in much of the media.
The panic comes at a fraught time for Paris. The city is slated to host the 2024 Olympics next summer. By late September, discussions about the perceived crisis were common in both the Parisian and French national governments, with politicians promising swift action to ensure that the problem does not adversely impact the millions of worldwide athletes and spectators planned to descend upon Paris next summer.
Bedbugs are small, flightless insects which feed on human blood. Their bites can be itchy and uncomfortable. Bedbugs can be difficult to eradicate. Recent crops of the insects have been resistant to insecticide. Bedbugs have also been observed slowing their metabolism almost to a standstill, being able to remain alive without a meal, allowing them to lie in wait for extended periods of time, or to travel long distances in passenger luggage.
Travelers can avoid bedbugs by staying in hotels with rooms that are cleaned every day, and not declining housekeeping services during their stay. In addition to cleaning, room attendants are also trained to look for the telltale signs of infestation by bedbugs and other pests, and how to eradicate them if found. Some travelers have posted hacks online, like keeping their suitcases in bathtubs to prevent the bugs from joining them on their journeys home.
From February 2022 to February 2023, France and the European Union adopted ten packages of sanctions against Russia and Belarus, primarily targeting individuals close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, putting limits on Russian financial institutions, certain Russian media outlets, and select sectors of the Russian economy, including aviation, energy, transport, defense, commodities, and services.