Bedbugs ‘a real source of concern’ on London transport, says Sadiq Khan
The bed bug threat to London’s public transport is “a real cause for concern” after reports of outbreaks in Paris, the capital’s mayor Sadiq Khan said.
A viral video over the weekend that purportedly showed a bed bug on a passenger’s leg on the Victoria line and was viewed more than a million times has fueled concerns that Britain could face similar problems to the French capital, where it is reported According to reports, there has also been a growing number of blood-sucking insects in homes, cinemas and trains.
Luton City Council warned it was receiving an “alarming number” of calls to combat bed bugs and was giving people advice on how to get rid of them. There is also an unconfirmed claim that bed bugs were spotted on a train from London to Liverpool.
In conversation with the PoliticsJoe website, Khan said: “This is a real cause for concern. People are worried that these bugs in Paris could cause a problem in London.
“I would like to reassure listeners that TfL (Transport for London) has the best systems in place to clean our assets every night. We are talking to our friends in Paris to see if there are lessons to be learned, but for various reasons we do not believe these problems will arise in London; But TfL shows no complacency.”
Some experts have questioned whether the video shows a live bed bug or what type of bug it is, but the UK is no stranger to bed bugs, which occur worldwide.
They are often transported in luggage and hide in suitcases and on clothing when traveling. There is often an increase in July and August when there are a lot of people out and about.
Once introduced, they can hide in small crevices, often in bedroom furniture, or even in baseboards or behind mirrors and pictures, and bite at night. They are not known to transmit disease and their bite is painless but leaves a red, itchy mark. However, their feces and remains can cause allergies in some animals.
Data from pest control company Rentokil in September showed the UK saw a 65% increase in bed bug infestations from 2022 to 2023.
They can spread quickly – an adult female can lay up to 10 eggs per day and 200-500 eggs in her lifetime – meaning rapid detection and quick, effective action to control an infestation are crucial.
Luton City Council has published information on its website advising homeowners on how to prepare for treatment by pest controllers, such as stripping beds and removing bedding, clothing and pictures. It added that there were no “unlimited resources” to address the problem and that treatment was not free.
The council announced this on its website: “This national bug problem hasn’t missed Luton. The pest control service is currently receiving a worrying number of bed bug orders on a weekly basis.”
An Avanti West Coast employee contacted the Guardian after the railway company allegedly allowed a train to operate despite a report of bugs. The employee said that while bed bugs had been reported on a service from Liverpool to London on Monday, the train was sent back from London to Liverpool with people on board.
Avanti said the train was taken out of service in Liverpool and the carriage in question was inspected and treated, but no bed bugs were found.
An Avanti spokesman said: “When we were notified the carriage on the train in question was taken out of service. The bus was treated and inspected and no traces of pests were found.”