A Local Authorities-researcher study group scratches at the subject of bedbugs

Tuesday 8 October saw the first meeting of one of ShapeMed@Lyon's thematic working groups

Organised at the Biodistrict de Gerland, on the campus of the Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, this event was dedicated to the question of bedbugs. An issue raised by town councils during local health contracts. This has been a socially sensitive issue since the proliferation of bedbugs in France in autumn 2023, which was widely covered by politicians and the media.

It provided an original moment with the aim of connecting the key people in the Lyon area (scientists, associations, the private and public sectors) working on these small insects in order to discuss possible synergies between existing projects and, potentially, to encourage the emergence of new ones.
The strength of this afternoon was that it went well beyond the world of research. An important place was given to civil society as a stakeholder in the health issues raised.
Thus, not only were researchers present, but they also mixed with project developers from associations, workers from social landlords and civil servants from local authorities.
Among the wide range of stakeholders who came together was Céline de Laurens, deputy mayor of Lyon, responsible for health, prevention and environmental health. 

Thus, this afternoon was an opportunity to strengthen the links between policy-makers and the research community and to discuss the social and political challenges of the spread of bedbugs.
Although they are not in themselves a public health problem - because, they do not for example transmit diseases - they do have an impact on the well-being and mental health of local residents and on the quality of life in general. It is therefore necessary to include all the stakeholders concerned in order to better calibrate research and the implementation of solutions in this area.