UPDATED 2x: Bed bugs infest UTD

Bed bugs pierce your skin with an elongated "beak" through which they suck your blood.

Bed bugs, meet your icy doom.

RICHARDSON — An infestation of bed bugs has hit some students at UTD.

They appear to be in the beloved Waterview Park campus apartments.

Entomologist Dr. Mike Merchant said bed bugs are basically fleas for humans and that apartments and hotels are dealing with the problem more frequently.

UPDATE:

In a letter sent out to students and faculty over the weekend, the UTD Office of Housing Operations pledges that all 15 affected units have been thoroughly treated with two kinds of treatment.

Judging by the letter's wording, UTD seems to regard the infestation with a casual tone, saying "this issue is becoming more common across the United States. . ."

Here is the letter in full:

A few days ago you received a letter regarding reported cases of bedbugs in several apartment units. Since that communication, we have identified 15 affected units out of 1237 on campus. All have been thoroughly treated by Terminix with two forms of treatment including a pesticide and a frozen CO2 treatment. Terminix will be back weekly to inspect and re-treat these units as necessary. Multiple treatments may be necessary to eliminate the problem.

The management agency at Waterview is available to take calls or visit with you personally to answer questions. Please review the previously distributed materials for help on how to identify the problem, and see the office if you need another copy of the material previously distributed. Ongoing inspection for potential problems is available. Any units found to have a problem will be scheduled for treatment.

This issue is becoming more common across the United States, as reflected in the attached articles, one of which cites examples "in college housing at Boston University, Ohio State University, Stanford University in California and the University of Florida." Its common nature doesn't make it any less troubling, but does mean others are focused on determining its cause and working, as we are, to eradicate it.

You can learn more about bed bugs at:

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=358011&Category=6&subCategoryID=

http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/jun/07/blood-sucking-bedbugs-once-thing-past-menace-peopl/

These articles also offer more suggestions on keeping such problems at bay.

UPDATE x2: More bugs cometh

Matthew J. Grief, Director of Housing Operations at The University of Texas at Dallas, sent out another email newsletter to students on Wednesday, June 27th, saying:

"We have identified two more units with a bed bug issue which brings the total to 24 affected units out of 1237 on campus. All of the 24 units have received at least one treatment and others have received the follow-up treatments as necessary."

Additionally, Grief gives word that the infestation is "not isolated to one or two locations" but "spread throughout the community." Where, exactly, it has spread he doesn't disclose, but says that "if units around your specific area were found to have the bed bug problem, we would have notified you."

Basically, if you're in danger, they'll let you know. Otherwise sit tight. Unless, of course, the bugs are spreading throughout the community randomly, as was just previously stated. Good luck.

Posted by T.G.

Mike Orren, verified:

Wow. I never woulda thought there was so much video material available on Bed Bugs.

http://www.youtube.com/results.php?se...

If it was sweeps, every TV station in town would have a chopper hovering.

Here's some of the more interesting entries:

Spooky mini-documentary: <object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4qx751dNw7Q"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4qx751dNw7Q" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" wmode="transparent"></object>

Similar, but with more production values: <object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lpkTC3bs4Cg"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lpkTC3bs4Cg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" wmode="transparent"></object>

Apparently UTD's best answer would be to hire Mary-Kate and Ashley: <object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kYjbnZ02C-I"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kYjbnZ02C-I" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" wmode="transparent"></object>

They're trouble in Britain, but they fortunately have entomologists to tell them what to do:<object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/U44Zo-aoBNg"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/U44Zo-aoBNg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" wmode="transparent"></object>

Like anything else, the best antidote is a <a href="http://bedbugdog.com/">dog</a>: <object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/D3e8rhT_hAw"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/D3e8rhT_hAw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" wmode="transparent"></object>

Live! Nude! Bed bugs!: <object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rbUGsPhbdbA"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rbUGsPhbdbA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" wmode="transparent"></object>

This looks like a helpful fellow: <a href="http://www-bedbug.com/"><img src="http://www-bedbug.com/wp-content/themes/Antioxidants/images/header.jpg"></a>

4 years, 11 months ago
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Teresa Gubbins, staff:

dear god ... look, i'm all with you for the breadth and power of the worldwide web but i'm also of the mind that there's only so much i want to know about bed bugs. have mercy

4 years, 11 months ago
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kirk, anonymous:

I think Pegasus needs a weekly feature on parasites. Perhaps twisteddog could do a "Worst Bites" column?

4 years, 11 months ago
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Rawlins, anonymous:

Ah for the good ole days when it was all about scabies and 'crabs'. Still more proof that parasitic types (on multiple evolutionary scales) throughout the Metroplex are bed hopping. All this coming off Oprah's show segment about 'hot' singles in Arlington bars. I'm telling ya, there's no putting this story to bed!

4 years, 11 months ago
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