EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated.
SOUTH SHORE — A Chicago high school that sent home notes with students saying that the school might have bed bugs — alarming parents — did not find any, CPS officials said Thursday.
South Shore International College Prep at 1955 E. 75th St. sent home the grim note Wednesday.
The letter signed by Principal Janice Wells said that "a case of bed bugs, a common parasite, is suspected in your child's classroom."
Officials said the letter was sent after the school had received a report of "a potential bed bug" there.
"We encourage you to examine your child for bites, along with intense itching, that might indicate infection and contact your healthcare provider when appropriate," said the letter, which was also signed by the school nurse. It's unclear how many students were given the letter.
But Thursday afternoon, CPS spokesman Michael Passman said exterminators were sent to the school after the report but did not find any bugs.
"Exterminators recently visited South Shore out of an abundance of caution in response to an unconfirmed bed bug sighting," Passman said in a statement. "Bed bugs were not found by the exterminators during their visit."
Some parents said they were alarmed by the letter, while others said their kids also came home complaining about fruit flies and mice.
Cheri Barley said her son, a senior, told her students were jumping on tables Thursday when they saw a mouse in the cafeteria.
“At this point I don’t know what’s going on in the building,” Barley said.
The Chicago Department of Public Health has found health code violations at the school as recently as the beginning of the current school year.
A spokesman for the department did not immediately comment.
