Bedbugs found in two Marion High School classrooms; No school for MHS on Wednesday

MARION -- The school day ended early for some Marion High School students when bedbugs were discovered in at least two of the school's classrooms Tuesday morning.
At 12:48 p.m., WSIL-TV reported on its website that some parents were picking up children early after reports of the bugs filtered into the community.
Subsequent Facebook posts from a number of MHS parents floated through social media about the situation, with several parents posting they were picking up their students early.
At 2 p.m., the following message was posted to the Marion Unit 2 Facebook page:
"Recently, it was brought to our attention that less than 5 students and two adjacent classrooms were identified as having bedbugs. Bedbugs are a public nuisance and require attention.
"All impacted areas are being professionally treated. Parents with students in the impacted classrooms have been notified.
"Classes remain in session, and we are continuing to monitor and professionally treat the impacted areas."
While bedbugs are a nuisance, they do not pose a life-threatening situation, according to Andy Morrow of Egyptian Exterminating Company in Marion.
Morrow is a third generation specialist in the family business and has dealt with bedbugs as a regular part of his job.
"These are actual true bugs," he said. "They feed on blood."
Although they feed like ticks that are known to transmit diseases such as Lyme disease, Morrow said bedbugs are not known to be transmitters of disease.
In fact, while some people might get an itchy bump as a reaction to a bite, others will not react at all.
Morrow also said that cleanliness is not a culprit in outbreaks.
"I've seen them in the nicest homes and in some of the worst," he said. "The thing about bed begs is that they are hitchhikers."
Morrow said the bugs like to hide in dark places such as mattress and furniture seams, picture frames, electrical outlets, or around woodwork and moldings.
"In a situation like at the school, they probably came in on clothing or in a book bag or purse," he said.
He recommended that students carry in as little as possible until the bugs are cleared.
He also suggested that students should check the areas around them, including their own clothing, getting a buddy to check their backs and places they can't see.
"I would also suggest that kids immediately change clothes after school," he said. "Immediately put the clothes in the washer and dry them on the highest possible heat setting."
He said that heat, usually over 125 degrees, will kill the bugs. However, there are dangers in fighting an infestation using that method and, unlike a pesticide, there is no residual left behind to treat leftover bugs.
"If they're on the clothing, you'll find them in the lint trap in the dryer," Morrow said.
Bags, including purses, carried in the school should also be checked carefully for the bugs.
He also said it's important to understand that bedbugs can be picked up anywhere.
"People need to understand they should not blame the (extermination) company or school," he said. "If you're having a bunch of kids from all over the Marion area come to a single place, it's easy to bring them in. It happens."
Morrow said the bugs can easily be seen with the naked eye. "They're football shaped," he said of the small, black bugs. He also said they leave fecal matter that looks like small black clots.
"They also molt, like a cicada," he said, leaving a yellowish transparent skin. The eggs, he said, look like small, white grains of rice. Morrow said that being diligent about inspecting clothing and personal articles will help to keep the bugs at bay.
Voicemail messages left for Superintendent Keith Oates and MHS principal Joey Ohnesorge were not returned before press time.
UPDATE: At approximately 5:30 p.m., Marion High School officials posted this message on the school's Facebook page:
"Marion High School Parent/Guardian,
This call is to inform you that Marion High School will NOT be in session on Wednesday, November 20, 2019.
The Marion High School facility will be professionally inspected for bed bugs and treated as necessary
beginning tonight and continuing tomorrow. As announced earlier, we believe the issue to be
isolated to (2) adjacent classrooms and have taken the necessary precautions. We apologize
for this inconvenience and will update parents/guardians with a follow up call tomorrow
afternoon, Wednesday, November 20th. Thank you for your patience and understanding."