French Education Minister Gabriel Attal announced on Friday evening that authorities had to close 7 schools due to the spread of bedbugs.

According to what was reported by the "France 5" television channel, the French minister said: "Bedbugs have been detected at different levels in 17 institutions... As I speak to you, seven institutions are closed for this reason."

This week, the French government held a series of meetings to discuss the increasing reports of bedbug infestations at a time when France is hosting the Rugby World Cup and preparing for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The Ministry of Education had indicated in a statement earlier on Friday that five schools with 1,500 students were closed.

Earlier this week, authorities announced the closure of two schools - one in Marseille and the other in Villefranche-sur-Saône, just outside Lyon in southeastern France - for extermination.

The French minister confirmed, "The cases are increasing... There is a need for an immediate response so that we can exterminate the institutions within 24 hours."

He also clarified that a list of "approved and recognized" companies was prepared in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and regional health agencies "so that school heads can contact them and have them intervene very quickly."