SOCASTEE, SC- Health officials confirm a supposed bed bug was found at Socastee Elementary School Monday.
Director of Health and Safety Services for Horry County Schools Tammy Trulove said she received a call from the school’s principal saying a teacher spotted the bug. While the insect appears to be a bed bug, it hasn’t been completely identified.
“That requires a professional or an entomologist,” said Trulove.
Regardless, health officials decided to move forward with an Integrated Pest Management Plan, or IPM. Trulove said the procedure includes a visual inspection of the classroom, thorough cleaning, isolation of students back packs and removal of any carpet or fabric-like items.
“What people don’t understand about bed bugs is they don’t originate in the schools, they are brought in as hitchhikers from outside,” stated Trulove.
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She suspects the bug entered the school on someone’s clothing. Trulove told News 13 the only way to get rid of bed bugs is through heat.
“Pest management is going to come in and steam clean that particular area which requires the students be removed from that classroom for at least 4 hours,” she said.
Bed bugs don’t carry diseases, but they do leave a distinct rash.
“Reddened welt like areas, in a line or in a circle, arc like pattern,” described Trulove.
She recommends parents send as little as possible back and forth to school and put their child’s clothing in the dryer on high heat.
According to Trulove, school officials did not send a letter to parents notifying them of the situation because they did not want to insight panic. They also chose not to fumigate the building due to chemicals.
The district will continue to monitor the school and if the situation gets worse, Trulove said they’ll take pest control to the next level.
