Bedbugs found at children’s hospital

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Updated: February 13, 2012 10:44PM

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana University Hospital says bedbugs were found over the weekend at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

The Indianapolis Star reports that IU Health spokeswoman Abby Gras said Monday the hospital is working closely with its infection control and environmental services departments “to ensure the incident is isolated and dealt with in a timely manner.”

Gras said in an e-mail sent Monday morning that “bedbugs continue to be an issue nationwide.”

Bedbugs are wingless, reddish-brown insects that bite people and animals to draw blood for their meals. Their bites can cause itching and welts, but they are not known to spread disease.

Bedbugs can be inadvertently brought home in luggage and other items after motel or hospital stays and often hide in mattresses, box springs, bedframes and headboards.