Starting with the week just before Paris Fashion Week, the infestation began. Bedbugs have taken over the city of Paris, and the situation is now facing the prospect that the outbreak could travel overseas. As Paris, being one of the world's most-visited city, is hosting the next summer Olympics in 2024, it is a very concerning situation. Between 2017 and 2022, more than one in ten French households reported bedbug infestation, according to the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES). Currently, blood-sucking insects have been spotted in the Paris Metro, high-speed trains, and at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, with disgusted travelers posting videos on social media. 
  What exactly is a bedbug? Bedbugs are small parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They are called bedbugs because they are found in or around beds and other areas where people sleep. These insects are reddish-brown, flat, and oval and they can range in size from one to seven millimeters depending on their life stage. Bed bugs are nocturnal, which makes them active at night and their attraction to carbon dioxide and body heat emitted by humans, helps them locate their hosts for feeding. They use their specialized mouthparts to pierce the skin and feed on blood. Bed bug bites can leave itchy, red welts on the skin. Bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases, but their bites can cause discomfort and distress, and their presence can lead to significant psychological and emotional stress for those affected by an infestation. 
  Infestations can occur in homes, hotels, and other places where people frequent. Bed bugs can hide in cracks, crevices, and seams of furniture, mattresses, and walls, making them challenging to detect and eliminate. Effective pest control measures are usually required to get rid of bed bug infestations. However, as it is not the first time bedbugs have infested Paris, the rise in travel and the increasing resistance of bedbugs to insecticides have mutated bedbugs to become superbugs. They have evolved to create defenses and adaptations against certain chemicals typically used to destroy them. 
  For now, the French capital is in the beginning stages of its effort to tackle the problem. Transport Minister Clement Beaune said that he will have a discussion with transport operators about methods to counter the issue and protect commuters. Deputy Mayor Gregoire has called on insurers to include bedbug cover in house insurance policies, as low-income people rarely have the means to call in pest control firms. They are seeing the Olympics as an opportunity for everybody to work together on the issue. 
  Experts suggest some solutions to prevent bedbugs. Regularly inspect your living spaces. Periodically check your home, hotel rooms, and other accommodations for signs of bed bugs. Use protective covers. Encase mattresses, box springs, and pillows in bed with bug-proof covers to prevent infestation or trap existing bugs. When staying in hotels or other accommodations, inspect the room for signs of bed bugs. Use luggage racks or keep your luggage elevated. Seal any cracks and crevices in your home, which can serve as hiding places for bed bugs. Other than that, you could vacuum regularly, use steam cleaning to help kill bed bugs or get help from professional pest control. Especially for severe infestations, DIY bed bug control methods may not be as effective as professional treatments. In case of a significant bedbug problem, it is recommended to consult with a pest control expert to ensure complete eradication. Early intervention would be the best way to prevent bedbugs from spreading.