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By Joe Edwards
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A Georgia courthouse has been forced to close temporarily because of an infestation of bed bugs.
According to Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov), Superior Court Chief Judge Lisa Lott issued an emergency order on Monday to close down the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse until next Monday to treat the facility for bed bugs.
Per Lott's order, jury trials and hearings have been canceled and "many judicial activities" have been suspended. ACCGov says additional orders will address late filing dates and other-court related issues.
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Workstations for non-judicial offices in the courthouse have also been closed, ACCGov says.
A number of public offices will be affected, including:
- Superior Court
- Municipal Court
- Probate Court
- Magistrate Court
- Juvenile Court
- State Court
- The Sheriff's Office
- The Solicitor General's Office
- The District Attorney's Office
- The Tax Assessor's Office
- Central Services Records
"After the Athens-Clarke County Central Services Department was made aware of possible bed bugs in areas of the building, it contacted an on-call pest control company for a full assessment," ACCGov says on its website. "Once the company confirmed the presence of bed bugs, the Central Services Department and Facilities Management Division recommended the temporary closure of the Courthouse to Chief Judge Lott in order to provide the necessary multi-day measures to treat the spaces.
"Although bed bugs were only found in areas on three levels, the recommended treatment involves closing and treating the entire facility."
The infestation's source is unknown due to the high number of visitors the courthouse receives daily.
"Tentative" plans recommend treating the infestation throughout the week, with the courthouse hopefully reopening Monday.
Newsweek has contacted the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government manager's office for additional information.
What Are Bed Bugs?
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) describe bed bugs as small, flat insects that feed on the blood of people and animals, primarily during the night while their hosts are sleeping. Reddish-brown and wingless, they are easily visible with the naked eye and can be almost one-third of an inch long.
Despite being found naturally infected with blood-borne pathogens, bed bugs are not known to be effective vectors of disease. Their primary medical importance lies in the rare allergic reactions and inflammation caused by their bites, due to the components in their saliva.
Bed bugs can live for a long time without feeding, making them resilient pests. They are notorious for staying out of sight and hiding in small crevices, such as the seams of mattresses, where they are difficult to detect.
In 2023, a legal representative of a Georgia inmate's siblings alleged their brother had been "eaten alive by insects and bed bugs" in his cell.
That same year, reports claimed that several Las Vegas hotels had been hit with bed bug outbreaks over a 20-month period.
Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about insect infestations? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com
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