Bedbugs found in two rooms

Sherri Simons, CSC director of housing, said the presence of the insects was confirmed in one residence hall room Wednesday morning, and another late that night. Extermination procedures are under way.

“We believe it’s isolated to two rooms, but we ask that all residents remain attentive and report any concerns they have. Upon hearing about the possibility of bedbugs late Tuesday afternoon, we moved as quickly as possible to minimize the spread of the insects,” Simons said. “An exterminator has checked many other rooms, based on the residents’ history, and found no evidence of insects in those locations.”

Simons said bedbugs aren’t prejudiced when taking up residency, and are often carried by humans from one location to another. Officials point out that while bedbugs are a nuisance, they do not transmit disease. Although some people experience an allergic reaction to bedbug bites, they are not considered to be dangerous. More information about the insects is available at a special section of cdc.gov, the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We’re not alone in having to battle bedbugs. Many other colleges and universities, and some of the finest hotels in the world, deal with them occasionally,” Simons said. “Any time I go to a hotel room, it’s the first thing I check.”

Upon discovering the presence of bedbugs, CSC hires a pest control service to treat the area and gives the students the opportunity to move to a different room. Mattresses are destroyed, and clothing is double bagged and taken to a laundry service for treatment.

If students of the residence halls suspect bedbugs, they may contact residence hall staff or Simons, 308-432-6466 or ssimons@csc.edu. Students seeking treatment for bites may contact CSC Health Services at 308-432-6232.