Why Is Everyone In Paris Abandoning Their Used Mattresses On Streets?

City of lights but streets of mattresses? A sleepless mystery is sweeping through the streets of Paris as locals are abandoning their mattresses in public places.

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What's happening in Paris?

The streets of Paris are littered with piles of abandoned mattresses amid concerns the UK could be next in line to witness a full-blown epidemic of bedbugs. Footage shows residents walking past discarded mattresses on French streets with some lying on the roads and others propped up against buildings.

Where and When?

The French capital of Paris and the second largest city Marseille have been plagued by the infestation of these minute insects. One particular street, Rue Saint Lazare in the Paris' 9th district, has been described as the worst hit area as its hotels attempt to curb the spread of the problematic bugs.

The news of the said epidemic and the subsequent video on social media only began to surface on Tuesday.

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Why is it important to get rid of these?

The crisis has been something of sore spot for France, which is due to host thousands of British and Irish rugby fans in Marseilles and Paris for the Rugby World Cup this weekend.

Bedbugs come out at night to feed on human blood. Further, bed bug bites do have several negative health effects. These health conditions include skin rashes, allergy symptoms, severe itching and psychological issues. People living in bed bug infested homes may experience panic, stress, anxiety, and very little sleep because they fear being bitten.

However, French pest controls said that the bugs are now becoming "harder" to exterminate after they began to develop a resistance towards pesticide sprays.

Nicolas Roux de Bezieux, who works for a pest control company in France, said: "It¡¯s harder to kill them than it¡¯s ever been. Pest controllers have to return to kill them again because they survive the spray."

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Who is at risk?

Itching or other skin reactions can occur, but not everyone feels symptoms, says Lal.

People who may be more susceptible to reactions from bedbug bites include children and chemotherapy patients.

"Their immune systems are not as strong, and so their body reacts in this wide manifestation where they can actually develop an allergic reaction to the bedbugs," Lal explains.

How to protect yourself?

When you arrive at a hotel or vacation rental, do a thorough search of the bed ¡ª underneath it, behind the bed frame, on the sides of the mattress and in between the mattress and frame.

Dr. Karan Lal, a double board certified dermatologist and Society for Pediatric Dermatology member, also suggests traveling with a little spray bottle of isopropyl alcohol to help check your inspection. "If there are bedbugs, they will come out because they don't like rubbing alcohol," he says.

You can also look for blood stains or small black dots that look like mold or ground pepper, Christine Johnson, a behavioral ecologist in the American Museum of Natural History's Division of Invertebrate Zoology, previously told CBS News.

Keeping your belongings off the ground in your accommodations is another way to prevent bedbugs from hitching a ride. Instead, opt to place items on the tops of dressers or other spots higher up.

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Since the critters are less likely to be found in the bathroom, where tile floors are less inviting, you may choose to leave your luggage there, some experts suggest.

Also keep your eyes out on trains and other modes of transportation where bedbugs may be lurking, and opt to stand if you wish to avoid extra contact with seats or other surfaces.

Once back home, don't bring your suitcases inside right away. Lal suggests keeping them in your garage for a few days and then washing your clothes on a high temperature. You might also consider wrapping your suitcases in plastic as a way to make sure nothing goes in or out.

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