Putting the bug to bed: untangling perspectives on France’s bedbug crisis

Abstract

France's bedbug resurgence has become a topic of intense media scrutiny and social media commentary in recent weeks, highlighted by the country's position in the global spotlight because of the Rugby World Cup and Paris Fashion Week. However, in the context of a global resurgence in bedbugs over the past two decades, there is limited evidence to suggest that France is an outlier compared with other countries and social media reporting may be distorting this perception resulting in disproportionate fear among the public, politicians and neighbouring countries.