Bedbugs in the metro: “The results of the expertise are negative”, according to the RATP

The RATP is categorical: “no presence of bedbugs was noted” in the train taken out of the commercial service to be examined, after the report on September 27 of a driver of line 8 of the metro reporting a possible infestation of his cabin by the parasite. And the Parisian Régie goes even further, ensuring that “in recent days, no proven case of bedbugs has been observed in our equipment”. And this, whether in the metro, RER, trams or buses.

Recalling that it is “extremely vigilant on the subject”, the RATP also relies on the comments reported by the president of the National Institute for Studies and the Fight against Bedbugs (INELP) Marie Effroy, who recently made know on BFM Paris that there had never been “to date a very significant infestation in means of transport, and it is something that we control well”. A good opportunity for the group to put an end to the controversy which has been growing for several days on social networks over the presence of this parasite in the Paris metro.

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However, vigilance remains required on the part of public authorities, while many experts report an explosion in the number of proven cases in France, and more particularly in the Paris region. “Each report is taken into account and is subject to processing which may extend to the release of the equipment concerned from the commercial department in order to be assessed by a specialized service provider,” recalls the RATP, which promises that “if a harmful is detected, appropriate treatment is then carried out.

In the meantime, the subject continues to be debated, to the point of becoming highly political. The Minister Delegate in charge of Transport, Clément Beaune, even announced that he would bring together transport operators, in order to “provide information on the actions undertaken and act more in the service of travelers”. Meeting which is to take place this Wednesday in the presence of SNCF and RATP in particular as well as the Union of Public and Rail Transport (UTP), the National Federation of Passenger Transport (FNTV), the Union of French Airports (UAF) , the National Federation of Aviation and its Trades (FNAM) and the National Federation of Transport User Associations (FNAUT), according to his office.

At the same time, the president of the Renaissance deputies Sylvain Maillard announced Tuesday that a transpartisan text would be presented “at the beginning of December” against the “scourge” of bedbugs, while the LFI elected officials will table a proposed resolution for their part. On the side of the Minister of Health Aurélien Rousseau, we are trying to defuse the bomb: there is, according to him, "no general panic" to be had in the face of bedbugs, the presence of which has "certainly" been reported in many public places in recent weeks but the cases have not necessarily been proven.