“Tunisia activated the health monitoring system at its borders and set up a joint committee which will meet shortly to take the necessary measures to prevent the bed bug from getting into the country after its recent spread in France,” said Environment Health Director at the Health Ministry Samir Ouerghemmi. Tunisia stepped up control at all border crossings, the official further told TAP. The bed bug had not entered Tunisia so far. Bed bugs are insects that live in houses, damp places, mattresses , closets and especially beds and are linked to poor hygiene, Ouerghemmi said. “They spread rapidly, prefer darkness and feed on human blood,” he added. Bed bugs die in temperatures of over 60°C. France, the official said, had been hit with the fast spread of bed bugs in houses, public spaces and means of transport for around two weeks now. Morocco detected Monday bed bugs on a boat from France and immediately activated its health monitoring system.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse