A man died in Lyon at the end of October after using an insecticide against bedbugs, banned in Europe. An investigation has been opened.
- A man has died after using a bedbug product banned in Europe.
- Called Sniper 1000 EC, this insecticide contains dichlorvos, a banned substance.
- More than 1,000 cases of poisoning have been recorded over the last fifteen years.
A man died after using an insecticide product, banned in Europe, against bedbugs. According to the site Actu.fr, an investigation was opened by the Lyon public prosecutor’s office to investigate the causes of death. On October 25, his family filed a complaint. The elderly man was still hospitalized and died four days later.
Bedbugs: an insecticide banned in Europe
This man had used Sniper 1000EC in his apartment. This insecticide, intended for professionals, contains dichlorvos, a banned substance. “He thought he had a miracle product against bedbugs.”says his son in The Parisian. However, according to INRS, dichlorvos is toxic if swallowed, in contact with skin and fatal if inhaled. “Dichlorvos is highly toxic upon acute exposure in a large number of species and by different routes, develops the Institute. As an acetylchlolinesterase (AchE) inhibitor, it primarily causes neurological effects.” According to a report from ANSES, 36 cases of poisoning linked to this substance have been recorded since 2015. The agency has already recorded one death linked to the use of a banned product to combat bedbugs.
According to Actu.fr, the person who sold the product was identified and arrested. At the same time, mOn Wednesday, November 8, a product recall was posted online: people in possession of this type of bottle must no longer use them and return them to the point of sale.
How to get rid of bed bugs ?
“Physical control, that is to say without the use of insecticide, is essential initially to reduce and eliminate the number of bedbugs as much as possible”warns Ministry of Health. This means that contaminated parts must first be cleaned and vacuumed before using products. Then the vacuum cleaner bag must absolutely be closed and thrown away. Several techniques can work depending on the type of furniture or objects concerned: cleaning with a steam appliance at more than 120°C, for sofas and beds for example, washing at more than 60°C for linens and textiles , machine drying for at least 30 minutes or freezing at -20°C for at least 48 hours. Brushing certain surfaces also helps remove eggs.
Infested furniture that cannot be treated can be thrown away, but only in a recycling center, ensuring that it is unusable so that no one collects it. Small jobs can also be carried out to prevent bedbugs from proliferating, such as re-pasting wallpaper, screwing in sockets or even filling cracks.
If pests remain present, it is advisable to call an approved professional. The use of insecticide products is conditional on possession of a Certibiocide certificate, issued by the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
