Ball State increases awareness on the spread of bed bugs

Recent bed bug infestations in universities around the country and in Indiana have brought Ball State's Housing and Residence Life office to launch a campaign to raise awareness of the issue.

Housing and Residence Life sent out a brochure to residence halls and apartments with information about what bed bugs are, how to identify them and how to prevent them. The brochure also had a letter from Alan Hargrave, director of Housing and Residence Life, asking students to keep an eye out and help the university avoid the spread.

Although the university has not seen any cases of infestation, Hargrave said students should be aware that it is a community issue and should be treated as such.

"The worst thing [students] can do is be embarrassed about having a problem," he said. "We don't want them to feel embarrased about reporting it."

Students that live off campus should take extra precautions, especially if the apartment or house is carpeted and has second-hand furniture, Hargrave said.

"I think in residence halls it could be better because rooms are not carpeted and rooms are smaller," he said. "In a rental house or apartment with a lot of carpeting and clutter, you have a bigger area to treat."

At Ball State, reactions to the spread of bed bugs has been mixed among students. Some students, like freshman organizational communications major Jenna Brewer, don't think the issue should be given much attention.

"I think it's been blown out of proportion," she said. "I think it has always been a problem, but now they notice it more. [Bed bugs] are more of an irritation, like mosquitoes."

Other students, however, have learned how bad of an experience it can be to have bed bugs.

Senior journalism magazine major Sammi Pantoja said she learned what it was like to have bed bugs and would not like to repeat the experience. Pantoja was living in University Estates when she realized her apartment was infested.

"They came over the summer, and I woke up with little bites all over me and it sucked," she said. "My mom told me to put baking soda on my mattress and on my bed and it got rid of them."

Pantoja said she called the maintenance office to tell them about problem.

"I think [students] should just keep an eye out," she said. "It's just an irritating problem, not to mention the fact that you feel so insecure laying in your own bed."

Other universities have already found cases of bed bugs in their dormitories. Including Reinhardt University in Georgia, Missouri State University and Penn State, colleges throughout the country have seen outbreaks of the pest.

On Sept. 20, a bed bug was found in Indiana University's Wells Library, according to the Associated Press. Public health staff inspected the area and set traps that caught a second bed bug. No additional cases were found. Bed bugs have also infested Purdue three times this semester.

Various factors, including increases in travel and the lack of insecticides, could be the cause of the increase in the number of bed bugs, Ralph Williams, professor of entomolgy at Purdue, said.

"Bed bugs have been here all along, and the population was reduced," he said. "But bed bugs can go unnoticed and start spreading. The populations of bed bugs are still sporadic."

While bed bugs are known for not transmitting any disease, their bites can cause burning, itching and even infections. Bed bugs can cause discomfort, sleeplessness and extreme anxiety, according to the brochure distributed by Housing and Residence Life.

The Delaware County health department has only seen two cases of bed bug infestation in the past few months, Nancy Huffman, inspector for the environmental division of the county health department, said.

A woman who bought a couch called the health department saying she had bites all over her body. When the department sent experts to investigate, they found the couch was the source for the bed bugs.

"We have educated some of the residents on how to prevent bed bugs and what to look for," Huffman said.

Huffman said there are different things that could be done to find out if there are bed bugs in a residence. Checking bed mattresses for blood stains or cracks on walls are good ways of starting to check for a possible infestation.

BEAT THE BED BUG:

Bed Bugs can be found in the following areas:

Along mattress seams

Under the gauze covering of box springs

Behind wall-mounted objects and bed headboards

Behind wall switches and receptacle covers

Inside cracks and crevices or screw holes of upholstered, wood or synthetic furniture

Under loose wallpaper or wall coverings

Behind base and window trim

Under edge of wall to wall carpeting

In electronic devices such as televisions or computers

How to get rid of bed bugs

Bag and wash all linens, bedding, clothing, drapes, etc. in hot water and dry on medium or hot heat

Use a dedicated vacuum to remove the insects

Discard infested furniture

Move furniture away from cracks, openings

Encase mattresses and box springs by placing zippered cloth or plastic mattress cover to restrict bed bug movement

Adjacent rooms should be inspected to make sure the infestation is controlled

SOURCE: Housing and Residence Life


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