"Anecdotally from technicians we are seeing a significant increase in interest (in the UK)," a spokesperson for Rentokil said in an emailed statement to Reuters. Rentokil Pest Control in the UK tracked a 65% increase year-on-year in recorded bedbug activity in the second quarter of 2023, versus last year. "This is when a pest technician had confirmed the activity," the spokesperson said. An activity is when a technician has been on a customer site and confirmed the presence of bedbugs. Reporting by Anchal Rana and Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru; editing by David EvansOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Persons: Stephanie Lecocq, London Sadiq Khan, PoliticsJOE, Rentokil, Anchal Rana, Yadarisa, David Evans Organizations: Hygiene, REUTERS, Paris Olympics, bedbugs, Transport, Reuters, Thomson Locations: bedbugs, L'Hay, Paris, France, French, London, Rentokil Pest, Bengaluru