Some Monroe County students in junior high spent the last few days of the school year at a different school because of what health officials are saying was a Bird Mite infestation. The bugs were discovered to be in a portion of the Tellico Plains Junior High gymnasium on May 2. 14 students who had been in the area were seen by the school nurse for reported bites. The gym was closed for pest control treatment and re-opened on May 10. After that, another student reported to the nurse with suspected Bird Mite bites. The building was closed again, with the entire building undergoing fog, crack and crevice treatment. As a precaution, the students at the school were re-located to Tellico Plains High School for the remainder of the school year. Since the problem surfaced, the school system has been in contact with the county and state health departments and the Centers for Disease Control.