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French intelligence is “taking seriously” the idea that Russia has fanned panic over its bedbug outbreak.

Reported outbreaks of bedbugs infesting homes and migrating to metros and cinemas have caused hysteria in France.

Algeria even announced in early October that it would introduce “preventative measures” to ward off the spread of bedbugs to their country from France on planes and ships.

A test tube full of bed bugs was even brought into the French parliament by an MP raising concern about the “wave of panic that has seized the country”.

The government staged an emergency meeting earlier this month and Clément Beaune, the transport minister, pledged to send sniffer dogs into trains to check for their presence.

While experts say global warming and the revival of international travel and tourism in the wake of Covid lockdowns has caused an uptick in the bloodsucking insects, others suggest the current national debate is disproportionate and the outbreak is not significant.

Against this backdrop, French intelligence agents cited by RMC radio say they strongly suspect Russia of seeking to amplify fears by spreading so-called “doppelgänger” articles on social media that appear to come from respected French news outlets but are faked.