Bed Bugs Found in North Carolina Student Laptops

Bed bugs were found to have infested the laptops of students at a North Carolina school.

At a Glance

Bedbugs were discovered crawling out of district-issued laptops at Riverside High School in Durham, North Carolina.
The laptops had been stored in the school’s media center over the summer.
School administrators requested that students return the infested laptops and inspect their homes for bedbugs.
The media center and infested computers have been fumigated.

Bed Bugs Invade North Carolina School Laptops

Bedbugs were discovered crawling out of district-issued laptops at Riverside High School in Durham, North Carolina. The laptops, stored in the school’s media center over the summer, were distributed to students at freshman orientation.

School administrators quickly addressed the issue by asking students and parents to return the infested laptops and inspect their homes for bedbugs. The media center and the infested computers were fumigated to prevent further spread of the pests.

Bed bugs found inside laptops given out to students in Durham, NC. https://t.co/Ep6xWXfa9o

— 13 Action News (@13abc) September 1, 2024

Impact and Measures Taken

Breaking the news, Riverside principal Gloria Woods-Weeks assured parents, saying, “We understand that this may cause concern, but please rest assured that we are taking every precaution to address the situation and prevent further occurrences.”

These tiny, brown insects are notoriously difficult to eradicate but do not harm their hosts, with their bites only leaving red mosquito bite-like marks on the skin. The school district is collaborating with pest control experts to prevent future infestations. Authorities recommended discarding infested laptops or placing them in airtight bags for extended periods to eliminate the pests.

Wider Issues and Concerns

The bedbug problem at Riverside High is part of a larger trend, with bedbug infestations seeing a significant resurgence globally. Of particular note, three North Carolina cities, including Raleigh-Durham, are among the top 50 cities with severe bedbug infestations.

Adding to the challenges, the district faces issues with outdated HVAC systems, impacting one-third of Durham Public Schools. Superintendent Anthony Lewis acknowledged these infrastructure and pay issues.