Shawville school remains open despite mysterious bug problem

An elementary school in Shawville, Que., is keeping its doors open despite a bug infestation that has prompted numerous parents to keep their children home.

Students at Dr. S.E. McDowell elementary school began reporting bug bites on April 12 and dozens have been affected since. The school hired an exterminator on April 13.

“At no time has public health suggested that we close the school,” said Mike Dubeau, director general of the Western Quebec School Board.

“Although it is very frustrating and I can understand the concerns of parents, staff and students … (public health) is saying that it’s not a case where they’re recommending we close the school.”

A couple of classrooms, an office and a section of the adult learning area of the building were sprayed with insecticide. Insect traps were set in order to collect samples.

There was a second spraying of pesticide on May 2, and the school closed the following day as a precaution.

Diana Thomas says she was alarmed when her 10-year-old daughter Ava came home with a bug bite Monday.

“I was mad that this was happening in an environment where she was supposed to be safe,” Thomas said.

Thomas said one of the members of the school board told her that the bites are non-life-threatening, and that they are similar to those of black flies or mosquitoes.

Samples caught in insect traps at the school have been sent to an Agriculture Canada lab in Toronto. The lab was unable to identify the insect because samples were too small or turned out to be specs of dirt or fruit flies, the school board said. The school nurse and the exterminator suspect that it is a type of flea. However, this has not yet been confirmed and the board is asking for second opinions.

Thomas, meanwhile, has kept Ava home from school since Tuesday, and she will hopefully return to her class next week.

Some parents have voiced their concern but Dubeau said the community has been understanding.

Nevertheless, he said, he takes responsibility for a lack of communication to parents in regard to the bug infestation as he had been preoccupied with dealing with school closures due to flooding in the Outaouais.

The school board expects to get results on Thursday from the most recent set of samples sent for identification.