SEATTLE — [if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} Four cases of bed bug infestations have plagued University of Washington dorms since the academic year began.
Three of the cases have been at Haggett Hall, and one was reported at Alder Hall.
"Bed bugs are hitchhikers. They come in with the person or a belonging, and they kind of fester in the space," said Josh Gana, the assistant director for facilities and operations.
One of the students with bed bugs in her room told KIRO 7 the insects appeared three times since October. The last treatment to rid them happened two weeks ago, yet she was still being bitten afterward.
She said that the university is relocating her and her roommate to another unit in the same building.
But in general, Gana said they do not encourage students with bed bugs to move.
"When students move and they're undergoing treatment, it's so easy for the bedbugs to hitchhike with the student," Gana said.
He said that the university will pay for any commercial laundering, but the high-heat washing and drying that one must do to get rid of bed bugs is on the student's dime.
In fact, the student told KIRO 7 she had spent maybe $100 on laundry because of this problem.
Gana said that facilities staff will inspect any space where a student suspects bed bugs. They may also bring in their contracted pest control company to spray low-toxic chemicals or steam clean the furniture.
"Today we had the canine in to do an additional re-inspection to make sure that we're effectively addressing the situation," he said.
While the campus sees only a handful of cases each year, many of them require months of repeat treatments. These issues only became more prevalent within the last 10 years.
Students like Kiri Nibler hope they don't become the next targets.
"I know that they're hard to get rid of. And I don't want to deal with all those issues of like, pest control people coming in," Nibler said.
Upon hearing about the recurring cases of bed bugs, students in Haggett Hall are now checking sheets and mattresses for rust-colored markings.
Gana said that students should always tell housing staff if they suspect bed bugs, in order to proactively treat the problem.
KIRO
