European leaders address public transport bedbug fears

Government and city leaders in Europe have sought to calm rising concerns about bedbugs on public transport.

Just days after the insects hit the headlines following an outbreak in Paris, commuters in London began posting videos on social media showing some unidentified critters hitching a ride on the city’s Tube network.

While the sightings have not been verified by experts as bedbugs, the videos have already clocked up millions of views, leading some passengers to vow not to use public transport until the “problem” is fixed.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has weighed in on the issue, saying the prospect of bedbugs on the capital’s public transport network is “a real source of concern”, and added that Transport for London (TfL) is “taking steps” to prevent the potential spread of insects across the city.

Speaking to PoliticsJOE, the mayor recognised people’s concerns about “these bugs in Paris causing a problem in London”.

“I want to reassure those watching and those listening – TfL has one of the best regimes to clean our assets on a nightly basis.

“We’re speaking to our friends in Paris to see if there are any lessons to be learned.”

‘No outbreak’

A spokesperson for the Mayor stressed that there have been no confirmed sightings of bedbugs on the city’s transport network and that the mayor was “reassured that there is a robust monitoring and cleaning regime in place”.

“We are monitoring the situation closely and working with partners across London such as transport providers, health experts and industry bodies to prevent these pests,” the spokesperson added.

“Should any issues arise, London is prepared, with a comprehensive plan in place.”

In Paris, sniffer dogs are being deployed to inspect trains and the Metro for bedbugs after reports of infestations caused alarm in the French capital.

Last week, French transport minister Clement Beaune said there had been about 10 commuter reports about the insects to Paris public transport operator RATP and 37 to rail operator SNCF in recent weeks, but denied there was an “outbreak”.

“When there is a problem, we deal with it, we won’t deny it,” said Beaune.

“There is no outbreak of bedbugs in public transport.”

Travel patterns

Eurostar – the company that operates the London-Paris train route – says it has installed “preventative measures” on its services.

In a statement provided to Cities Today, the operator said it had “not seen an upsurge in bedbugs on board our trains”, but did not comment when asked if any had been found on board already.

“The textile surfaces on all of our trains are cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis and this involves hot-water injection and extraction cleaning, which is highly effective in eliminating bedbugs,” the statement said.

“Any reports on hygiene matters are taken very seriously and our cleaning teams, in addition to the usual cleaning, will also disinfect a train on request or as soon as there is the slightest doubt.”

However, given how difficult it can be to eradicate bedbugs, there are still concerns over their potential to travel and spread.

Even before the outbreak in Paris, pest control company Rentokil reported a 65 percent increase in bedbug infestations in the UK from 2022 to 2023 – adding that the insects were “notorious for finding their way into luggage, clothing, and other personal belongings”.

“Bedbugs are travelling pests and love to migrate,” said Natalie Bungay, Technical Manager at the British Pest Control Association.

“They latch onto items such as luggage, clothing and second-hand furniture, and will be transported into your home that way.

“It’s how they can also end up on public transport or in public buildings such as cinemas, and unfortunately, how people can bring them home from holiday.”

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