France has been forced to shut seven schools following a bedbug outbreak in Paris.
“Bedbugs were detected at various levels in … I believe 17 institutions, and currently as I speak to you, seven institutions are closed for this reason,” Gabriel Attal told France 5 television.
An outbreak has swept across the French capital, with reports of the blood-sucking insects being found in apartments, hotels and hospitals.
Videos have also been circulating on social media showing train seats on the Paris Metro crawling with the bugs, fuelling concerns that they will still be a problem when the city hosts the 2024 Summer Olympics.
On Friday, the education ministry said in statement that five schools with a total of 1,500 students had been closed.
Earlier this week, authorities announced two schools – one in Marseille and the other in Villefranche-sur-Saone outside Lyon in south-eastern France – had been shut down for cleaning.
“We have almost 60,000 institutions and we’re only talking about a few dozen here, but it’s true that cases are piling up,” Attal said. “An immediate response is needed, so that we can have institutions treated within 24 hours.”
Eurostar, which operates services to London through the Channel Tunnel, said it was preparing extra cleaning measures to disinfect its trains if required.
France transport chief Clement Beaune said he would deploy sniffer dogs on Paris’s metro system to inspect the trains.
