BEDBUGS have invaded the London Underground – with a skin-crawling clip showing critters jumping on a woman’s leg.
The French capital is at war with the small insects that often live in furniture and bedding and feed on blood, with the city’s deputy mayor, Emmanuel Gregoire, describing them as a “scourge” and a “public health problem”.
According to the French health and safety agency ANSES, one in 10 households in France has had a bedbug infestation between 2017 and 2022.
It now looks like the creepy crawlies have reached UK shores after an eight-second TikTok clip was uploaded with one commuter finding one on their leg while travelling on the Victoria Line, captioning the post: “It’s true, they’re thriving on the Vicky Line.’
Another woman posted a clip of a bedbug inching up her trouser leg in a Tube carriage.
Posting on TikTok, she said: “Minding my own business on the Victoria Line.
“A f***ing bed bug is on my leg.
“Said he’d got a great deal on the Eurostar and wondered if I could take him home.
“Sort it out Transport for London.”
In a report bed bug threat to London Underground in MyLondon, before the viral videos were released, it claimed that the national service who run the London Underground were monitoring then situation and were cleaning the lines constantly however were unaware of any bedbug sightings.
A TfL spokesperson said: “We are not aware of any outbreaks in London, but we will monitor our network and continue our rigorous and thorough cleaning measures which have been proven to keep both the interior and exterior of our trains clean.
“We are committed to providing a clean and safe environment on the Tube for our customers and staff, and we would like to reassure our customers that we continue to maintain our already high standards of cleanliness, so our staff and customers can use the network safely and with confidence.”
It’s not just the tube which is on alert airlines and hotels across the UK are bracing for an invasion of “super-bedbugs” from Paris, where they have run rampant.
Grim clips from the French capital show the blood-sucking bugs crawling across hotel bedsheets, cafe tables and Metro carriages.
The rooms of those who have come from across the Channel are reportedly deep-cleaned when they leave.
Air France, which runs six flights a day from Paris to London, said it will ground any plane if bedbugs are spotted on board.
And Eurostar is disinfecting trains from Paris if there is the “slightest doubt” they are infested.
What you can do to protect yourself from bedbugs?
If you’re able to avoid the seats
If you are able to avoid seating on public transport this may help reduce the chance of picking up the bedbug unknowingly, as it is unlikely you will be able to fully inspect each seat on a carriage or the bus or even be able to see them.
However, if you are unable to stay standing or have a long journey this is not always doable, it’s also important to note at this stage no outbreak has been announced on public transport.
Check all your items before bringing them inside
A lot of the time, you can get a great deal on some used items. However, a lot of the time they also hide bed bugs. Check all items thoroughly before adding them to your collection.
If you are worried you may have them on your items, you can place shoes, bags/suitcases outside if you have the space, also isolating your clothes into a bag to seal them until you can wash them is also recommended.
Blast them with heat
Experts say that washing or tumble drying at 60 degrees for 30 minutes terminates all bed bugs and their eggs.
Lowering the temperature to 40 degrees kills all adult bed bugs, but only 25 per cent of the eggs.
Clothing and bedding can be blasted to kill the bedbugs and eggs,
