A bed bug epidemic in Bloomington is prompting a warning for schools and communities across the state.
A special pest control coalition made up of school officials and public health workers met inside Pike High School on Thursday to talk about the emergence of bed bugs in Central Indiana and what to do if they are discovered in schools.
"They are what we call a gregarious bug," said Indiana University entomologist Dr. Marc Lame.
"This is a community problem."
Dr. Lame not only studies and teaches people about bed bugs, he's tracked a two year epidemic in his home town of Bloomington. The pests have become so prevalent in Monroe County that Arlington Heights Elementary recently found them inside the school.
The bugs came into the school on the backpack of a student with an infestation in his home. Dr. Lame said there are similar infestations in homes across the state, which is why he is advising that schools be prepared.
"The schools won't become infested but people who have infestations might be bringing these hitchhikers with them," he said.
"And so it's going to impact Indiana from border to border."
Lame helped initiate an integrated pest management coalition consisting of school and health officials from across the state. Pike Township schools are among a handful that are trying to take precautions and prepare educational materials just in case, including Raul Rivas with Pike Township schools.
"We're trying to stay at the forefront to address it before it happens," said Raul Rivas, Director of School Facilities.
"And if it does, having a plan in place to deal with it."
One of the goals of the coalition is to control pests and bed bugs without using harsh chemicals. At Pike, they do that by using a simple combination of soap and water to treat and clean surfaces instead of an industrial cleaner. When it comes to bed bugs, Dr. Lame said it can be done with a small, disc-shaped monitoring station.
Though the tools will help, Lame told Fox59 News the lesson he's learned from Arlington Elementary is that all schools need to be prepared and ready to alert parents and offer educational opportunities for the community.
"The antidote for uncertainty and panic and fear is knowledge," Lame said.
Doctor lame said early prevention and public awareness campaigns for bed bugs can also save big money. Treating and removing bed bugs at home can cost several thousand dollars.
