Bed bugs in Paris have been on the rise. Though not as severe as bedbug incidents in 2010, they’ve stirred enough controversy to be seen and discussed in the media. The newfound interest in bed bugs is assumed to be related to this year’s Paris Fashion Week, which occurred around the same time they resurfaced. In my opinion, I believe that Fashion Week and other future events in Paris should not be canceled because of many exaggerated media reports of the situation.
Paris Fashion Week is a twice-a-year event that showcases the work of brilliant designers worldwide. Many celebrities, icons, and influencers from different parts of the world attend these events. It’s a large social gathering, including groups of many diverse people. The main issue of Paris Fashion Week’s 2023 Womenswear Spring/Summer Collection, however, was its unfortunate timing.
The fashion week happened in late October. As previously mentioned, videos had been going viral and reports were made about an increase in bed bugs. One video shows visible bed bugs on public transportation and another in a high-class restaurant. Influencers visiting Paris even voiced their panic online, allowing more and more sources to pick up on the situation.
This had the internet concerned with a global infestation. Since Paris Fashion Week drew in a large number of people, many were worried about those people carrying bed bugs back with them. If attendees brought back these bugs, they could potentially affect people worldwide. Bed bugs are also notorious for being hard to get rid of, further heightening the online chaos.
Numerous arguments have been made about why this year’s Spring/Summer Fashion Week should have been canceled. Along with the potential global infestation risk and the time-consuming process of getting rid of bed bugs, online users are also looking more into the future, specifically, this summer. Next year, Paris plans to host the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will be the biggest event ever organized in France. This caused a huge online disturbance and further pushed the question; Will this outbreak spread outside of Paris?
Despite the major headlines and internet distress, officials in France say that this is not out of the norm. They think the media is over-blowing and dramatizing the entire situation. Richard Pollack, a senior environmental public health officer for Harvard Campus Services says after a trip around Europe, including France, “Bedbugs had, indeed, become resurgent, but not nearly to the levels that were described in the media.” Bedbugs in Paris and around the world have always existed, but due to timing and social media, they’ve started to demand attention. French officials have just told the public to take precautions and be aware of the situation. I agree that social media is a big factor for attention, but still think they could’ve handled the situation better. The way it was being presented online made outsiders, including me, think the outbreak was on a much larger scale.
I believe that at this point, the best course of action is to just take preventative measures. For example, those who visited France can make sure to either heat-treat or freeze any clothing or material items they brought back. Delicate pieces and luggage can be steamed to kill any bedbugs or bed bug traces. Following these steps would eliminate any chances of infestations outside of Europe.
Bedbugs are pesky creatures. If grown in large quantities, they become a pain to eliminate. However, as long as travelers know the risks, there should be no reason to cancel major events in Paris, and the rest of Europe.