BED BUG FAQs

Manistee Area Public School’s response to beg bug concerns is based upon Michigan’s Departments of Community Health (MDCH), Human Services (MDHS), and Education (MDOE) policy recommendations.

In general, school environments are not conducive to bed bug infestations. Bed bugs prefer an environment where they can hide during the day and come out at night to feed on a sleeping host. Because most schools do not provide this type of environment, major infestations of school buildings are rare.

Most often when beg bugs are detected in a school the issue is relatively isolated. Bed bugs hide in clothing or backpacks and can hitchhike to and from schools, potentially providing a hub for bed bug spread.

Any area where a bed bug may be detected can be temporarily cleared for further inspection.

Any student with bed bugs identified on their person or in their belongings may remain in school until the end of the day. Currently there is no scientific evidence demonstrating that enforced exclusion policies are effective at reducing bed bug transmission in the school environment.

Districts are responsible for developing school procedures to support prevention and control. Our policies and procedures include the following elements:

• Adopted Integrated Pest Management (IPM). An IPM is a philosophy that uses all possible control methods in a logical combination to minimize risk of pesticide exposure, safeguard the environment, and maximize effectiveness. An IPM program focuses first on environmental management to reduce pest populations by eradicating their harborage and food source. Pesticide use is minimized. When pesticides must be used, the least harmful chemical for the environment it is chosen.
• Training and designating an individual(s) to evaluate chronic cases within the school and/or school district that will work together with other local agencies to achieve compliance with the school’s bed bug policy.
• Alerting families when cases have been identified and urging vigilance at home. If tenant/landlord conflicts impede timely treatment, Families should be advised to talk with local agencies responsible for housing and code enforcement, human services, or the local health department.
• Enforcement procedures for students with recurring evidence of bed bug infestation in the home, or repeat violators of the school’s bed bug policy.

We recognize that if a bed bug is found on a student in school, it does not mean the student brought the bed bug into the school. Bed bugs do not infest people, they only feed on them. Bed bugs can crawl onto or off of a person (or their belongings) at any time. If a suspected bed bug is found on a student or their belongings, or anywhere else in a school, the following procedures are followed:

• If the bug was found on a student or a student’s belongings, the student will be discreetly removed from the classroom so that a qualified individual can examine their clothing and other belongings. Any bugs found are removed and collected for identification.
• The school administrators contact their pest management company for assistance in identifying the specimen(s) and confirm that the bugs found really are bed bugs before proceeding.
• If the specimen is confirmed to be a bed bug, then the school administrator notifies the affected class or classes.
• If a confirmed bed bug was found on a student, then the school administrator informs the student’s family by phone and educational materials are provided.
• In most instances, students should not be excluded from school due to bed bugs. Schools should not be closed due to the discovery of bed bugs. Infestation of a school building is unlikely.
• Investigation occurs of other sources of bed bugs on school property such as lockers, buses, common areas or other areas where students routinely congregate.
• We ask impacted families to promptly respond to bed bugs in the home for the health and safety of the family and school community. The longer bed bug infestations are allowed to persist, the harder they are to eradicate.

Assisting in the prevention and management of bed bugs through regular checks when bed bugs are found in the class, on the student, or in the home, educating themselves and their students, and making immediate arrangements for inspection/treatment when bed bug infestation is suspected or confirmed.

Please review the links to resources below.

Bed bug infestations are not only an individual family and school concern but are of concern for the entire community. The longer bed bug infestations are allowed to persist, the more likely it is for spread in the community and any place that people congregate for long periods may become a hub for this spread.

Individuals and institutions have their respective responsibilities, but it is incumbent on the community itself to attempt to help its members, particularly those less fortunate, to address an infestation. Be aware of emerging issues that are impacting community members and work to address these issues in the community.

Please review the links to resources below.

Local Health Departments/Agencies are responsible for:

• Providing technical support and knowledge to schools.
• Disseminating the most current information on bed bug prevention and control.
• Enforcement of Michigan’s Public Health Code.

When bed bugs feed, they inject a small amount of saliva under the skin. Some people do not react to the bites. In others, the proteins in the saliva can stimulate an immune response, leading to red, itchy swelling at the sight of the bite. Some individuals become sensitized over time and repeated exposures, leading to more severe localized or even generalized allergic reactions.

Please review the links to resources below.

A careful inspection of both the sleeping and living areas for the source of the irritation must occur. If bed bugs cannot be located after several careful inspections, then other biting pests or allergens must be considered.

It is important to note that:

• Bed bugs generally feed on exposed skin not covered by clothing.
• Bed bugs typically feed during the night in darkened conditions.
• Rarely, they may feed during daytime hours if they have been denied a host for long periods of time.
• Bed bug bite reactions may occur immediately, or up to 14 days after the bite.

Please review the links to resources below.

Bed bugs have been plaguing humans for millennia. Their blood-feeding lifestyle requires that they dwell in close proximity to their next blood meal, preferably people. While blood-borne pathogens have been detected in recently fed bed bugs, there is little evidence in the literature that they transmit communicable diseases between people.

In general, school environments are not conducive to bed bug infestations. Bed bugs prefer an environment where they can hide during the day and come out at night to feed on a sleeping host. Because most schools do not provide this type of environment, major infestations of school buildings are rare. However, bed bugs hiding in clothing or backpacks can hitchhike to and from schools, potentially providing a hub for bed bug spread. Because bed bugs can travel in belongings, it is prudent for schools to keep individual student’s belongings separate.

If students are experiencing skin conditions that might be associated with bed bug bites, then it may be necessary to investigate the school setting as well as the student’s home setting.