Greek Health Ministry denies claims of bedbugs in accommodation after illegal campaign targeting tourists

The Greek Health Ministry has asked for police help against fraudsters who tried to scare foreign tourists by falsely accusing them of having bedbugs in apartments in Athens.

The ministry said in a statement that the posters posted outside apartment buildings in the city centre, which featured fake logos of the Health Ministry as well as the Athens Municipality, were simply false. SchengenVisaInfo.com Report.

According to Guandian, the posters claimed that health authorities had ordered the evacuation of local private guesthouses to protect public health.

The posters mentioned that the reason for eviction was bed bug infestation, and that tenants who failed to leave these residences would be fined up to €500.

Athens and other parts of Greece are facing a housing problem, in addition to the cost of living, driven by the proliferation of short-term rental apartments, which are often rented to foreign visitors.

The country earns a large part of its income from tourism and this sector accounts for one-fifth of Greece's economy and one-fifth of its annual income. This year is particularly important for Greek tourism as arrivals are expected to reach a new record.

The Health Ministry has asked police officers to tackle this fraud and said that no one is allowed to terrorize and misinform the public, especially on public health.

While bedbug infestations have been a problem for France earlier this year, Greece has recorded no problems with the insects.

As for the French government, Transport Minister Clément Beaune has asked passengers to remain calm and refuted claims that there are bed bug infestations on public transport. On the other hand, social media users pointed out that there were such breaks in Paris public transport. Paris City Halls wrote a letter to French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne requesting authorities to take action on the matter.

Bed bugs are a public health problem and should be reported as such. The State must urgently bring together all relevant stakeholders to formulate an action plan tailored to this crisis as France prepares to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024.

Some of the recommendations listed by SNCF include regular deep cleaning and anti-pest procedures in many areas of the city. He suggested that preventive measures should be taken every 15 days instead of the present 60 days.