France, the first European country to ban the full-face Islamic veil in public places, is now facing a dilemma as it struggles to contain a bedbug outbreak that has spread in Paris streets including transport network and cinemas.
The bedbug infestation, which has been reported by social media users and confirmed by officials raises questions about the health and safety of the public and the image of Paris ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games. Bedbugs are small, wingless insects that feed on human blood and can cause itching, irritation and allergic reactions. They can also transmit diseases such as Chagas disease and hepatitis B.
Interestingly, these bedbugs are not only found in beds, but can also hide in furniture, clothing, luggage and other items. They can travel from one place to another by hitching a ride on people or objects.
The French government has urged people to take precautions, such as checking for signs of infestation, washing clothes and bedding in hot water, vacuuming regularly and using insecticides.
However, some experts have warned that bedbugs are becoming more resistant to pesticides and that more research and innovation are needed to combat them. Some people have also suggested that wearing face coverings could help prevent bedbug bites, especially on public transport and in crowded places.
The city hall of Paris asked the prime minister, Élisabeth Borne, this week to create a special national team to fight against the “plague” of the bugs.
The French government, which had enforced masks for everyone in some public places during the COVID-19 crisis, and resisted lifting its disputed ban on burqas, niqabs and other veils that some Muslim women wear for religious reasons, is now advising its citizens to cover themselves fully for protection from the bedbugs.
The Burqa ban, which was enacted in 2010, has been criticized by human rights groups and Muslim communities as discriminatory and Islamophobic. The ban also applied to full-body costumes and zentais, which are skin-tight garments covering the entire body.
The irony of the situation has not been lost on some observers, who have pointed out the inconsistency and hypocrisy of the French government’s policies on face coverings.
Meanwhile, the bedbug crisis has exposed the flaws and challenges the France is facing as it prepares to host the Olympic Games in 2024.
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