Health district: Springfield Walmart bed bugs rumor false

Internet rumors of a bed bug infestation at the Walmart on Bechtle Avenue are false, according to the Clark County Combined Health District.

“We’re aware of the rumor, we checked it out and it’s found to be false,” said Larry Shaffer, director of environmental health.

A Facebook post claiming Walmart on Bechtle Avenue had bed bugs was shared more than 855 times as of Friday morning. The health district took multiple calls about the post, Shaffer said.

Shaffer and other sanitation workers with the health district checked out the big box store this morning and found no violations, he said. The store was cooperative with the investigation, he said.

“When it comes to public health, (Walmart) has been a good client, a good citizen,” Shaffer said. “It’s unfounded.”

Social media rumors are common, Shaffer said, and typically happen to restaurants. If businesses can prove lost revenue, a lawsuit can occur, he said.

“They don’t realize how much it can spread and the liability they can take on if they spread something that’s false,” Shaffer said.

About the Author