Morocco’s Ministry of Health is implementing new measures to combat bedbugs in response to an invasion of the tiny, blood-sucking insects from France, the ministry announced in a statement issued on Tuesday.
The Ministry stated that, in collaboration with various public bodies involved in border health surveillance, it is implementing a health vigilance and proactive monitoring plan to prevent the infestation and spread of bedbugs throughout the country.
On Monday the Tanger-Med port announced a health emergency when a ship arriving from the French port of Marseille, carrying 112 passengers, was discovered to have an infestation of bed bugs in the crew cabin. The port authorities immediately initiated disinfectant procedures and provided care to a crew member who had discovered bed bug bites on his body.
Bed bugs are a serious problem in France, affecting 11% of French households, according to a report published in July by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety.
The pests cost affected households 230 million Euros a year and 83 million Euros in health care costs, and have also been spotted aboard trains and in subways in France in recent weeks.
The French government has vowed that France’s transportation providers will coordinate a counter-offensive against the critters.