A pest control company inspected the Racine Public Library for the presence of live bed bugs on Friday, but workers didn’t see any and the library is expected to reopen.
However, dogs used during the inspection process “alerted” to the presence of bed bugs in a floor outlet by the Internet terminal and a quarantined bin containing library materials.
Jessica MacPhail, director of the library, said she hired Canine Detection and Inspection Services LLC to inspect and Anderson Pest Solutions to treat the building on Friday. The companies were brought in as a precautionary measure after the City of Racine Health Department identified two live bed bugs had been found in the past month.
Staff found the bugs in the circulation area and a returned DVD inside the library.
According to a press release from the library:
“The dogs ‘alerted’ only once, at a floor outlet by the Internet terminals on the second floor. Although no live bedbugs were seen, Anderson Pest Solutions treated the outlet to kill any bugs or eggs and treated the carpet around it in about a 20-square- foot area, just to be safe.”
Library officials quarantined the DVD and the other library materials on that shelf in bins. During the inspection, the dog “alerted” to the presence of bed bugs there too. Anderson Pest Solutions plans to use a special treatment to kill any remaining bugs or eggs. But those items will continue to be quarantined until Anderson “gives them the all clear,” according to the press release.
The companies will email the library a list of what was found and the type of chemicals used during the treatment.
Bed bugs don’t spread disease and are not considered “a medical or public health hazard.” They are considered a nuisance and are on the rise here. The bugs bite people while they are sleeping on the face, neck, arms, hands and other body parts. Bites can take up to 14 days to develop.
The library will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
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