Parents Warned Of Bedbugs At West Charlotte School

CHARLOTTE, NC — A west Charlotte elementary school has called in an exterminator after the discovery of bed bugs in classrooms it told parents this week, according to reports.

Renaissance West STEAM Academy notified parents Jan. 22 in a letter that bed bugs — those tiny parasitic insects that suck blood at night — had been confirmed at the school.

"The source of bed bugs often cannot be determined, as bed bugs may be found in many places. Proper steps have been put into place to ensure the safety of your child as well as following with district protocol for pest treatment/extermination in the classroom," Renaissance West STEAM Academy said in the letter, according to WJZY.

According to WSOC, the school contends the case of bed bugs is isolated to a classroom, and sent the letter to parents of children in that room, not the entire school, which upset other school parents.

“Bedbugs travel,” a parent who wanted to remain anonymous told the station. “I just feel like we should be aware of this. This is a major matter.”

Some parents and teachers, however, said the insect problem has been present at the school since late last year.

A teacher told WSOC that she learned from other staff members — and not school administration — that the insects had been seen at the school at least five times in recent months.

RELATED: Charlotte Ranked As A Top 20 City For Bed Bugs: Orkin

The news of the bed bug infestation comes close on the heels of Charlotte’s ranking by Orkin as a top 20 city in the U.S. for bed bugs.

"While bed bugs have not been found to transmit any diseases to humans, they can be an elusive threat to households," said Chelle Hartzer, an Orkin entomologist who was referenced in a press release for the rankings. "They are excellent hitchhikers, and they reproduce quickly, which make it nearly impossible to prevent bed bugs."

The reddish-brown bugs are typically 4 to 5 millimeters in length, or the size of Abraham Lincoln's head on a penny. The creatures are also known for multiplying incredibly quickly, as females can deposit one to five eggs a day in the right conditions.
Orkin provides a range of tips to prevent bed bugs from inhabiting your home:

• Inspect your home for signs of bed bugs regularly. Check the places where bed bugs hide during the day, including mattress tags and seams, and behind baseboards, headboards, electrical outlets and picture frames.
• Decrease clutter around your home to make it easier to spot bed bugs on your own or during professional inspections.
• Inspect your residence regularly — when you move in, after a trip, when a service worker visits or after guests stay overnight.
• Examine all secondhand furniture before bringing it inside your home. This is a common way for bed bugs to be introduced into homes.
• Wash and dry your bed linens often, using the hottest temperature allowed for the fabric.