Bed Bugs in Schools in Belgium: Responsibilities

Contents

• Wallonia-Brussels Federation vs. Schools: Who Is Responsible?

• Prevention at Home vs. School: Benefits and Limitations of the Measures

• Criteria for Selecting an Expert and Recommendations Before Treatment

• Conclusion

Your child comes home from school, and you notice small bites lined up on their arm. Panic sets in. Is it the school? Is it the house? And most importantly: who should handle this? In Belgium, this question is coming up more and more often—and for good reason. Since 2023, several schools have had to close temporarily due to bed bugs in elementary and high schools across Belgium.

Things to remember

• This article sheds light on Belgium's administrative confusion to reassure parents

• It compares the obligations of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation with those of school administrations, while providing a strict home hygiene protocol and selection criteria for professional local treatment

• Who is responsible?

• Compare the different options before deciding.

The problem is that the administrative framework remains unclear. Parents don’t know who to turn to, school administrators sometimes pass the buck to the authorities, and in the meantime, the infestation spreads. Let’s sort this all out together.

My goal here is simple: to provide you with the actual legal responsibilities, a household hygiene protocol that works, and the criteria for choosing a good professional if you’re in Brussels or Wallonia.

Wallonia-Brussels Federation vs. Schools: Who Is Responsible?

Who is responsible if there are bed bugs at school? The answer can be summed up in one word: it depends. And I know that’s not what you wanted to hear. But the reality in Belgium is more nuanced than simply saying, «The school has to handle everything.».

The Wallonia-Brussels Federation has jurisdiction over the organization of education and school facilities. It provides funding, oversees operations, and sets the general health guidelines. But it doesn’t show up in every classroom with a bedbug detector. In practical terms, responsibility for bed bugs at school rests primarily with the school’s governing body. It is the governing body that manages the building on a day-to-day basis, so it is the governing body that must initiate treatment when an infestation is detected.

The school principal has a duty to ensure the safety and hygiene of the students. If he or she notices an infestation and does nothing about it, he or she is liable. Conversely, no one can blame the principal if a child brings bedbugs into school in his or her backpack. An insect traveling in a backpack is not the school’s fault; it is simply a fact of life in a school setting.

Where things get complicated is with the bed bug protocol at school. There’s no single, binding document that says, «Here’s exactly what to do, step by step.» Each school improvises a bit based on its resources. Some have a rock-solid health protocol, while others only discover the problem the day three families complain.

The CPMS (Psycho-Medical-Social Center) serves as a helpful liaison. In Belgium, the CPMS can support families, provide guidance and information, and act as a bridge between parents and school administrators. It doesn’t treat bed bugs itself, but it helps calm the situation and prevents the stigmatization of the affected children. Because yes, it does happen that a child is singled out for «bringing bed bugs home,» and that is unacceptable.

My advice from the field: As soon as a case is confirmed, insist that school administrators provide parents with a written notice and an action plan. Transparency is what prevents panic and curbs the spread.

Prevention at Home vs. School: Benefits and Limitations of the Measures

Are there bed bugs in Belgium? Plenty. Brussels is one of the European cities most affected by bed bugs, due to tourism, population density, and shared housing. So preventing bed bugs starts at home, not in the classroom.

The big advantage of being at home is that you’re in control of everything. Take the school backpack, for example: it’s the primary link between school and home. Never set it directly on your child’s bed. Store it in a designated area—ideally on a hard, smooth surface—away from fabrics.

The one thing that makes all the difference is washing at 60 degrees. Bed bugs and their eggs cannot survive at this temperature. Clothes, backpack covers, gym clothes: a wash cycle at 60 degrees or higher, followed by a hot dryer cycle, and you’ll eliminate the risk. For items that can’t be washed, putting them in the freezer for 72 hours does the same job.

Here are the steps I recommend for every concerned parent:

• Check the seams of the mattress and the box spring once a week (for black marks, small bloodstains, and shed skin)

• Vacuum along the baseboards and behind the headboards, then throw the bag away immediately

• Avoid buying used furniture without inspecting it thoroughly

• Use bed bug-proof mattress covers, especially if there is a history of infestation

Now, let’s talk about the school’s limitations. The administration cannot wash every student’s laundry or inspect every backpack. School hygiene in Belgium relies on collective effort: cleaning the facilities, keeping an eye on shared furniture, and taking prompt action as soon as an issue is detected. But it will never replace individual preventive measures at home.

And boarding schools are a special case. What is the protocol for getting rid of bed bugs in a boarding school in Belgium? In this setting, close quarters change the game. Dormitories, mattresses side by side, shared closets: a bed bug spreads quickly. The protocol must be more rigorous than elsewhere, with systematic inspection of every piece of bedding, isolation of affected areas, and immediate professional intervention. A boarding school cannot afford to wait. Every day of delay means several more contaminated rooms.

Criteria for Selecting an Expert and Recommendations Before Treatment

Five schools closed in a single media frenzy. The numbers speak for themselves: when a pest infestation strikes a school, DIY solutions are no longer enough. Pest control at a school in Belgium requires a true professional—not a can of insecticide bought at a supermarket.

The first criterion—and it’s non-negotiable—is the use of sniffer dogs to detect bed bugs. A sniffer dog can detect an infestation with a level of accuracy that no human eye can match. It locates hidden infestations in cracks, under baseboards, and inside furniture. Before treating an entire school, you need to know exactly where the bed bugs are. Treating blindly is a waste of money and leaves active pockets of infestation.

Second criterion: the treatment method. I recommend heat treatment for bed bugs. Heat, raised to over 55 degrees throughout the entire room, kills bed bugs at all life stages—including eggs—without the use of chemicals. In a school where children are present, avoiding toxic residues is a real plus. Some severe infestations require a combination of heat treatment and targeted chemical treatment, but a good professional will be able to tell you that after an assessment.

Here's what you need to check before signing a contract with a company:

1. A written guarantee of results, including a follow-up visit

2. Local connections and a thorough knowledge of the Brussels and Wallonia regions

3. Canine screening should be offered as soon as a diagnosis is made, not just at the end

4. A clear, detailed quote with no hidden costs

5. Quick response times (a true emergency is handled within 24 to 48 hours)

One last point about the service provider. Hiring a company located near you makes all the difference. A local professional understands the unique characteristics of Brussels homes, responds quickly, and remains available even after the treatment is complete. That’s exactly what we stand for at Punaisesdelitbruxelles: local presence, responsiveness, and personalized support—rather than just a number lost in a call center.

Before any treatment, prepare the area: clear out the affected areas, wash anything that can be washed at 60 degrees, and above all, do not move anything from one room to another. Moving an infested mattress into a clean bedroom is the surest way to make the problem worse. Let the professional guide you through each step.

Conclusion

Let’s focus on the essentials. Responsibility for bed bugs at school is shared: the Wallonia-Brussels Federation sets the framework, the school takes action within its building, and you protect your home. No one should bear this burden alone—and certainly not your child.

Prevention at home (keeping backpacks away from the bed, washing at 60 degrees, and regular inspections) remains your best defense. And if the infestation spreads beyond a single hotspot, don’t waste time with DIY solutions.

Are you in Brussels or Wallonia and suspect a bed bug infestation? Contact Punaisesdelitbruxelles for a diagnosis using canine detection and effective professional treatment. We respond quickly, explain everything to you, and won’t leave you to deal with the problem on your own.

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