Bedbugs found in 2 more UNL dorm rooms

LINCOLN (AP) — Bedbugs have been found in 54 University of Nebraska-Lincoln dorm rooms after two more infested rooms were discovered Monday, a university spokeswoman said.

The new infestations were found as part of the school's effort to wipe out the bugs and curb their spread after students reported finding the bugs in January when they returned from winter break, said spokeswoman Kelly Bartling.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Juan Franco said the university will "pay whatever it takes to take care of the problem."

Bedbugs are nocturnal pests that spread quickly and are tough to kill. Their bites can cause itchiness and skin welts, but they do not carry diseases.

The bugs were first reported on campus in June, when they turned up in a laboratory on the third floor of Nebraska Hall, which is used as office space for the College of Engineering. The January dorm infestation reports first came from two students who said they noticed bedbugs when they returned to their ninth-floor room in Abel Hall from winter break.

The pests also turned up in at least one UNL fraternity house. Phi Delta Theta called in experts to check out the premises, and one member's bed was treated to stem any spread.

Bedbug problems also have been reported recently at two other Nebraska colleges.

University of Nebraska at Kearney director of residence life Tony Earls said officials think bedbugs were isolated to one room on that campus. Nonetheless, he said, rooms on both sides and under the affected room were treated by exterminators.

Chadron State College housing director Sherri Simons said it's believed two rooms were affected by an infestation reported there last week.

A list provided by UNL said more than 30 colleges and universities have reported bedbug problems in the past five years.

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