SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – A sudden infestation of tiny mites through a window in the fourth floor rehab treatment gym at Regional West Medical Center prompted closure of the gym and quick efforts to contain and stop the infestation.

Mites were found in offices on the third and fourth floor – primarily in the Acute Rehabilitation Unit gym.

The mites entered through openings in or near window casings at the north and south ends of the third and fourth floor. The infestation is related to pigeons that are roosting on the window sills.

Mite bites are not poisonous, but can cause skin irritation. No reports of mite bites or related dermatitis have been reported.

Several Regional West departments including Environmental Services, Facilities Management, and Safety & Occupational Health have been working together and with commercial resources to stop the infestation and to develop a comprehensive plan to address the long-term situation.

Regional West Health Services, with over 1,800 employees, provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, 95 percent of whom are board certified or board eligible, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, Regional West offers care that spans more than 30 medical specialties. Regional West Medical Center, a subsidiary of Regional West Health Services, is accredited by The Joint Commission and is one of three Level II Trauma Centers in Nebraska.