France Closes Schools Over Bedbug Outbreak

    Image copyright: Flickr [via Wikimedia Commons]

    The Spin

    Narrative A

    Bedbugs have been increasingly present in France for two or three years, regularly peaking in the summer. While the reported surge of the blood-sucking insect is undoubtedly unwelcome, the French government is taking stock of the situation and strengthening measures to protect the public. French citizens shouldn't be too concerned about the latest flare-up.

    Narrative B

    The hysteria around bedbugs is as real as the threat they pose. While the French government is in denial, many citizens are spending an average of $500 to have their homes treated for the tiny bugs. The country — battling an invasion of bedbugs just ten months before the opening of the 2024 Summer Olympics — can't stay calm.

    Metaculus Prediction

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