Scary little guy The Hidden Vampire of Paris

He came without warning or even a sign, as if it was a shadow hidden in the shelves and furniture of homes, and they did not know where or how it came to them by surprise.

He launched a massive attack on the streets of the city of perfumes, leaving the residents of Paris no room to defend their valuable possessions, as if he were one of the legendary monsters that launched merciless attacks.

Despite its small size, it is more deadly than viruses and monsters. It infiltrates the house as if it were the main king, and is active at night like professional vampires with hunger. There is only one difference. Vampires are destroyed by the sun's rays, and the Parisian vampire is difficult to eliminate.

Some tips:

How do I get rid of bedbugs?

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Treating bedbugs is a “complex” procedure that can take weeks to months, the EPA says. Some people may require specialist help depending on the extent of infestation. “Your likelihood of success depends on many factors, including how many bed bugs you have, how much clutter is available for hiding places, whether your neighbors have bed bugs, and whether all residents of a house of building will participate,” the agency said.

There are some relatively simple things the agency recommends. Washing clothes and bedding that have been exposed to bedbugs is a crucial part of the eradication process. Turning the dryer to high heat for 30 to 45 minutes is what experts deem a death sentence for the insects. Dry cleaning can also be another means of killing the bugs. Steam cleaners that reach at least 130 degrees (54 degrees Celsius) can help treat carpets, baseboards, bed frames and other furniture, it says.

The EPA recommends removing infested items and placing them in a sealed plastic bag until they can be treated. Items that cannot be treated, it adds, should be sealed for up to a year to ensure any active bugs are dead. EPA-registered pesticides specifically labeled for bedbug control can help, too.

Yet according to Diagnostics, one of the challenges in controlling bedbugs can be resistance to different families of insecticide. Attempting to treat the problem on your own raises the risk of the infestation spreading to other rooms, according to the British Pest Control Association, though it notes that a full extermination is expensive and that some people cannot afford it — one of many reasons cases continue to worsen.

“Not all infestations are the same,” Cain said. “You do not need to burn everything and move out.” In his experience in professional pest control, some infestations have fewer than 50 bugs. In extreme cases, there are thousands. Cain recalls a one-bedroom apartment he visited in London that he estimated had 150,000 bedbugs.

How do I avoid a bedbug infestation?

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Experts say there are several steps you can take to avoid bedbugs. They include placing luggage in another room and not onto a bed or nearby furniture. Checking seats and beds for signs of bedbugs before settling down to rest is another preventive technique. The EPA recommends making your bed “an island” — having it at least six inches away from the wall and not allowing covers to dangle onto the floor.

Other tips include vacuuming both sides of your mattress at least once a month and installing bedbug monitors.

The EPA recommends notifying your landlord if you are renting a property and find bedbugs, as they may have responsibility to help treat the problem. Reducing clutter in the home can help limit hiding places for the insects, as will sealing cracks and crevices. Investing in a mattress protector may also help.

People should also check secondhand furniture for signs of the bugs before taking the items home, the EPA notes, adding that people should also be vigilant when using shared laundry facilities.