Bed Bugs
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Bed bugs are a nuisance, but their bites are not known to spread disease. Bed bugs are usually active at night and feed on human blood. The bite does not hurt at first, but it may become swollen and itch, much like a mosquito bite. Watch for clusters of bites, usually in a line, on exposed areas of the body.
The source of bed bugs often cannot be determined, as bed bugs may be found in many places including, but not limited to, hotels, planes and movie theaters. Although bed bug infestations in schools are uncommon, the Brunswick City School District will conduct an investigation and, if needed, will treat the area where the bed bug was found.
The Brunswick City School District will continue to work to identify bed bugs, provide thorough inspections of schools, and have licensed pest control specialists treat the rooms if a problem is found.
Some general tips for preventing the spread of bed bugs include:
- Limiting the items your child takes to and from school each day
- Completing a daily inspection of your child’s backpack, lunchbox, coat, and any other item that does travel to and from school
- Keeping school items in an area of the home that is separate from the sleeping areas
- Decreasing clutter to limit places where bed bugs can “hide”
Further information on preventing bed bugs is available on the following websites:
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) bed bug information website http://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/
- Center for Disease Control (CDC) bed bug information website http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/bedbugs/faqs.html
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your school principal at any time.