仏政府、トコジラミ「まん延」疑惑に反論　科学的根拠なし

【パリＡＦＰ＝時事】トコジラミ（ナンキンムシ）の「まん延」疑惑に対する不安の払しょくを目指すフランス政府は４日、公共交通機関でトコジラミが再増加している証拠はないと主張した。（写真はトコジラミ〈ナンキンムシ、資料写真〉）
　フランスではここ数週間、列車やパリ地下鉄、映画館や学校などでトコジラミの目撃例が報告された。ラグビーＷ杯フランス大会の真っただ中で、来年のパリ五輪に向けて世界中から大勢の観光客を迎える準備を進めているさなかとあって国民の間に動揺が広がっている。
　トコジラミ大量発生のニュースは、各紙の１面を独占。米国の深夜のトーク番組では物笑いの種にされた。
　だが当局は、トコジラミの大量発生を示す科学的根拠はなく、ソーシャルメディアに投稿された画像は必ずしもトコジラミの急増を示すものではないと主張した。
　クレマン・ボーヌ交通担当相は４日、主要交通事業者との緊急会合を開いた後の会見で、「トコジラミは再増加していない」「トコジラミ事例は増加しておらず、不安に思う必要はない」と述べた。
　ボーヌ氏は「事態を深刻に受け止めており、目撃報告は逐一対応・検証する」として、パリの地下鉄や都市間鉄道での報告された事例のうち、事実だと確認されたものはなかったと主張した。
　さらに「すべての交通事業者に、報告例と検証済み事例に関するデータを公開するよう要請した」「透明性を保つことが重要だ」と続けた。
　ボーヌ氏によれば、パリ地下鉄を運営するパリ交通公団には、目撃情報が約１０例報告されたが、検証の結果、事実だと確認されたものはなかった。フランス国鉄にも目撃情報３７件寄せられたが、事実確認が取れたものはなかったとされる。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/10/05-16:23）

The French government on Wednesday sought to calm growing public fears over a supposed bedbug invasion, saying there was no evidence of any resurgence of the biting irritants on public transport.
Aghast citizens have reported seeing the creatures in recent weeks on trains, the Paris metro as well as in cinemas and in schools.
The sightings have sent a shudder through the country, with France in the midst of hosting the Rugby World Cup and preparing to welcome millions from around the world for the Paris Olympics next year.
As well as dominating front pages, the reported surge in the vampiric pests has even become the butt of jokes on late night US television talk shows.
But officials insist there is no scientific evidence to suggest any explosion in bedbugs, and that images posted on social media do not necessarily mean growing numbers.
There is no resurgence of bedbugs in transport, Transport Minister Clement Beaune told reporters Wednesday after hosting an emergency meeting of major operators.
There is no increase in cases, no psychosis, no need for anxiety, he added.
It is taken seriously and each reported case receives a response and checks, Beaune said, insisting that none of the cases reported in recent weeks on the Paris metro or on intercity trains had been proven.
I asked all operators to publish data on reported cases and proven cases, he added, it is important to be transparent.
- 'Comprehensive approach' -
Around 10 cases were reported to the RATP, which runs the Paris metro, in recent weeks, Beaune said, adding that all have been checked... there were zero proven cases.
Thirty-seven sightings had been reported to SNCF, the national train operator, with Beaune adding that all have been checked, zero proven.
But in a sign of how seriously President Emmanuel Macron's government views the issue with the Olympics looming, an interministerial meeting will take place on Friday hosted by Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, government spokesman Olivier Veran said.
Bedbugs affect health, the economy, transport, tourism and therefore require a comprehensive approach, Veran told reporters.
Two schools -- one in Marseille and the other in Villefranche-sur-Saone outside Lyon in southeastern France -- have become infected with bedbugs and have been closed down for several days to be cleaned out, local authorities said.
Meanwhile, the head of Macron's Renaissance party in the French National Assembly, Sylvain Maillard, said Tuesday a cross-party bill would be put forward at the beginning of December to combat the scourge of bedbugs.
Bedbugs, which had largely disappeared from daily life by the 1950s, have appeared in greater numbers in recent decades, mostly due to high population densities, people taking more holidays and mass transit.
One in 10 French households are believed to have had a bedbug problem over the past few years, usually requiring a pest control operation costing several hundreds of euros that often needs to be repeated.
Bedbugs get their name from their habit of nesting in mattresses, although they can also hide in clothes and in luggage. They come out at night to feed on human blood.
Bedbug bites leave blisters or large rashes on the skin, and can cause intense itching or allergic reactions.
They also often cause psychological distress, sleeping issues, anxiety and depression.