Bed bugs: England fears an imminent epidemic

At the beginning of October, a bedbug epidemic struck France. Insects were walking around Schools, trains, hospitals and cinemas. Those affected reported “living in hell,” isolating themselves from the outside world, and even establishing self-help groups. The plague now appears to have crossed the English Channel, where the invasion of Great Britain may have already begun, according to Dailymail.

Witnesses have reported bedbugs on the London Underground or on buses in Manchester – and in the Bedfordshire area there have also been a “worrying number” of calls about seeing bedbugs. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the problem was “really worrying” and had already contacted officials in France. However, some experts also believe that reports of bed bugs are false alarms.

Passengers are no longer seated

It all started with a video from the London Underground that allegedly showed bed bugs on the seats of a train. More videos of alleged bedbug sightings followed. As a result, many passengers on the London Underground were afraid to sit on seats and spent their journey standing.

However, Richard Wall, an expert from the University of Bristol, clears it all up because the insect in the original video that most likely sparked the drama is not a bedbug – the insect filmed is not “flat enough”. Adam Gosson of Pest Control shares his opinion: “We’ve found bed bugs on trains in the past. So it’s not out of the question, but it just seems wrong.”

Many bed bugs are immune to insecticides

But there are several other videos circulating about alleged bedbug sightings, and molecular biologist David Cain talks about a bedbug problem that has been growing for years. “They have spread so much in the past 10 years that they can now be found in movie theaters, doctors’ offices, hospitals, and many other public places,” Cain explains.

However, the situation is not yet as bad as in France. London Underground officials are already taking all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the plague. “We are talking to our friends in Paris to see if we can learn from them,” says Mayor Khan. The London Underground system also has an excellent cleaning system. Trains on the Eurostar line from Paris to London must be thoroughly cleaned. Especially since many English people are currently traveling to France to support their national team in the Rugby World Cup.

Once the plague spreads, it is very difficult to get rid of. “The insecticides we have been using for decades to combat these insects cannot always be relied upon,” explains insect expert James Logan. Insects have adapted to chemicals and are now resistant to them. “The trick is to catch them early, before they lay their eggs,” Logan continues.

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