Residents of Pleasant Acres Nursing and Rehabilitation Center will again be able to receive visitors after work was completed to clean up after a bed bugs were found at the facility last month.
Management of the home located at 118 Pleasant Acres Road became aware of the problem on July 20, according to Carl Lindquist, Director of Communications for York County.
Visitation was temporarily restricted on July 29 as a precautionary measure after bedbugs were found in two rooms. Nursing home staff believe visitors brought the bugs into the facility after dropping off clothing for a resident. An exterminator was hired and quickly put to work.
“We’re pleased to return to normal operations and thank our residents and their families for their patience as we went through this process,” said Marlin Peck, administrator of the nursing home. “As our residents and their families know, we take great pride in the cleanliness and quality of care at Pleasant Acres. We regret the challenges caused by the restrictions, but felt these steps were necessary as part of a comprehensive response to this challenge.”
No additional bed bugs were located beyond those originally found, prompting the return to normal visitation and resident movement on Wednesday, Lindquist said.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bed bugs travel in the seams and folds of luggage, folded clothes, bedding and furniture. Most people don’t realize they’re transporting bed bugs as they travel.
Bed bugs are not known to spread disease, but they bite. Bite responses can range from no physical signs to serious allergic reaction, CDC said.
Signs of a bed bug infestation include bites on the face, neck, arms, hands and other body parts; evidence of the bugs’ exoskeletons after molting; small bugs in the folds of mattresses and sheets; rusty-colored blood spots on mattresses or nearby furniture; and a sweet, musty odor, CDC said.
No residents at any point showed symptoms of bed bug bites, Lindquist said.
Visitation at the facility will resume at noon Wednesday.