An increase in calls, and they refused to say how many calls make an alarming amount and they also don’t say how many infestations…
Also in the article
Bedbugs have been an issue in the UK for many years and were a “public health pest that is notoriously difficult to treat”, said Natalie Bungay, from the BPCA.
They were a bigger issue in major cities.
Ms Bungay said the BPCA was not aware of any unusual increase in bedbug activity.
“There was a dip during Covid-19 due to the lack of global travel taking place, so any increase now could just be trends getting back to normal now that everybody is moving freely again,” she said.
She added that seasonal increases in numbers, particularly as more people travel during the summer months, was nothing unusual.
“It’s also worth remembering that not every call out for bedbugs will result in a positive identification of the pest - increased media attention or public awareness can often lead to false alarms.”
Firstly, because it’s an example of a common phenomenon in media. One newsworthy thing happens, suddenly the media report any story that’s similar to it, leading naive readers/watchers to think that incidence of the thing being reported has increased. Particularly relevant to crime figures, where people vastly overestimate how often some crimes are committed, due to media coverage.
Secondly, because it’s not that much different to ‘Spanish’ Flu or the ‘French’ Disease. Shows how xenophobia, racism, disgust and a fear of disease are all connected and still quite common place. Bigotry isn’t so much connected to fear as it is to disgust at the different. Seems to be almost instinctual/evolutionary. That person’s different/foreign, might be carrying a disease, eww.
Which is ridiculous. Bed bugs are always a problem in large cities, and London really isn’t an exception.
It’s unlikely that the outbreak has significantly ‘spread’ from Paris. People are just more likely to notice they have an infestation.
It’s Luton. And the council has had phone calls about fears they could spread from Paris
It’s a non news story
The article is poorly phrased. It could be read as the calls are about fears of bed bugs spreading. But the source article (https://m.luton.gov.uk/Page/Show/Environment/pest-control/Pages/what-to-do-before-your-bed-bug-appointment.aspx) is about an increase in infestation calls.
As that’s the case raising awareness is a positive thing to nip an outbreak in the bud before it becomes pervasive.
An increase in calls, and they refused to say how many calls make an alarming amount and they also don’t say how many infestations…
Also in the article
Boston Bedbugs Party
History was made
I find it interesting though.
Firstly, because it’s an example of a common phenomenon in media. One newsworthy thing happens, suddenly the media report any story that’s similar to it, leading naive readers/watchers to think that incidence of the thing being reported has increased. Particularly relevant to crime figures, where people vastly overestimate how often some crimes are committed, due to media coverage.
Secondly, because it’s not that much different to ‘Spanish’ Flu or the ‘French’ Disease. Shows how xenophobia, racism, disgust and a fear of disease are all connected and still quite common place. Bigotry isn’t so much connected to fear as it is to disgust at the different. Seems to be almost instinctual/evolutionary. That person’s different/foreign, might be carrying a disease, eww.