A bedbug infestation that forced part of a hotel in Athens to close has been blamed on French travellers carrying the critters across Europe. A wave of panic broke out in Paris and other French cities after this epidemic.
Bedbugs feed on blood by biting people, creating wounds that may be itchy but rarely cause other health problems. An increase in bedbugs has also been reported in Spain, with Madrid and Barcelona, as well as the inland regions of Catalonia, Aragon, Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands believed to be among the most affected areas. Several factors, including globalization, trade, tourism and immigration, have contributed to their revival.
