Out With Their Beds

By: Kirsten Moody 

  

Fashion Week in Paris was rocked by the upsurge of a strange infestation plaguing the City of Love. The fashion event—held every year—generally ushers in a wave of tourism from those in attendance or hoping to catch a glimpse of the stars in their finery. The 2023 event (held Monday, September 25-–Tuesday, October 3) attracted celebrities and influencers from all over the globe and featured brands such as Chanel, Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, and Dior. 

  

Among these celebrities, Usher, Doja Cat, Zendaya, Olivia Rodrigo, Mia Goth, and various members of the Kardashian-Jenner family made appearances. Usher, in particular, made waves in a spotted ladybug suit. However, his bold look was soon overshadowed by another viral bug—this one causing even more uproar on social media. 

  

As Fashion Week began, videos started to go viral on social media platforms like TikTok and X, formerly Twitter, depicting bedbugs in public settings like public transportation, movie theaters, and even Charles de Gaulle Airport. These videos immediately gained traction, with many fearing the event would cause the bugs to spread all around the world once the event was over and the celebrities and tourists returned home. 

  

As described by pest-control manager Megan Cavanaugh in an interview with Forbes, bedbugs are very small, being mere millimeters long. The critters are nocturnal and seek out dark places like the creases of mattresses, where they lie in wait for their prey. Bedbugs are parasitic, and though they feed on human blood, they can last for months without feeding. 

  

ANSES, a French environmental agency, surveyed that, “11% of French households had been infested by bed bugs between 2017 and 2022.” In the same report, ANSES theorizes that these bedbugs may have grown resistant to the insecticides that had worked on them in the past, which could have led to the spread today. The French Minister of National Education stated in an interview that, “seven schools had been closed after bedbug infestations had been discovered.” Additionally, a video recently surfaced of mattresses lining the streets of Paris, which many believe to be because of the infestation. 

  

A board-certified entomologist operating as the National Pest Management Association’s senior public affairs VP, Dr. Jim Fredericks, said in an interview with TMZ that bedbugs are extremely capable of latching on to things, so it’s highly likely that they could make their way to the States by clinging to the clothes and luggage of those in attendance of the event. 

  

As Paris prepares to host the 2024 Summer Olympics, news of the infestation has proven to be quite detrimental to encouraging tourism in the area, and many are skeptical of stepping foot in the Paris airports in the wake of this news. During an interview with LCI, Paris’ deputy mayor, Emmanuel Grégoire, insists that, “There is no threat to the Olympic Games,” according to a translation by CNN. 

  

If bedbugs do make it to the United States, the CDC states that they do not pose any serious threat—simply a bite similar to that of a mosquito or flea-—but receiving such bites can still lead to the deterioration of sleep and a rise in anxiety levels. Many tutorials for detecting bedbugs exist online, and they can usually be treated and prevented with insecticides and regular inspections.