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For Immediate Release • August 19, 2011
Staff Contact: Rigo Leal, Public Information Officer, 303-651-8840
View the most recent Press Releases.
Bedbugs Eradicated from Library; More Tests Scheduled Next Week
AUGUST 19, 2011 - An inspection turned up bedbugs in five of six chairs in the Longmont Public Library on Friday. Exterminators immediately treated the areas with a CO2 freezing agent, killed and removed the insects.
Library staff inspected the rest of the library and it appears that all bedbugs are gone. However, specialized sniffing dogs will be brought in to conduct a more thorough inspection next week. According to research bedbug sniffing canines are 95% more accurate in detecting live bugs and viable eggs compared to humans who are 17 -30 percent accurate. They also can inspect an area in significantly less time than a human can.
Bedbugs have been in the news recently because their numbers have grown across the country. They have been found in many public places such as expensive and inexpensive hotel rooms, movie theatres and schools. Bedbugs don’t fly, jump or carry diseases. The CDC classifies them as pests. For more information go to http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/bedbugs/faqs.html.
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AUGUST 18, 2011 - The Longmont Public Library will be examined for possible bedbugs on Friday morning.
On Thursday, library custodians discovered what appear to be bedbugs on six chairs inside the facility located at 409 4th Ave. A professional exterminator will inspect the facility on Friday morning around 7:30 am before the library opens to the public at 9 am.
“We will error on the side of caution,” said Rigo Leal, Longmont Public Information Officer. “We suspect bedbugs, but we won’t know for sure until the professionals have a chance to make a determination.” If bedbugs are found, they will eradicated with a freezing agent and then vacuumed. It’s not expected that pesticides or other chemicals will be used.
The library remained open on Thursday and will open for regular business on Friday morning regardless of the findings. Bedbugs do not pose any health risks according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“Even though there is no health risk, we want to give library patrons ample notice about this potential issue,” Leal said. “Customers can make their own decision about entering the library on Friday.”
Signs informing the public of the situation are posted on all entrance doors and will remain through at least Friday morning.
Bedbugs have been in the news recently because their numbers have grown across the country. They have been found in many public places such as expensive and inexpensive hotel rooms, movie theatres and schools. Bedbugs don’t fly, jump or carry diseases. The CDC classifies them as pests. For more information go to http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/bedbugs/faqs.html.
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