Students at the University of Vermont were on the move last week. Bed bugs moved into one of the dorms at the Burlington, Vermont school, forcing students to move out. Fast action by the university kept bites to a minimum in the “German House” suite shared by 8 students. Students were moved to other rooms while the suite and neighboring rooms were treated.

“All of their belongings had to go into bags and they had to wash all their clothes,” said freshman Nick Leggett who had to vacate his neighboring suite during fumigation.

It’s too early to tell whether the problem will spread. In multi-room facilities like college dorms, hotels, apartments, nursing homes, etc. fumigation can eliminate bed bugs in the treated room but force them to seek harborage in nearby rooms, expanding the problem. Bed bugs move easily through wall voids, electrical and plumbing conduits, vents and air ducts. If a bed bug infestation is found in one room, it is likely that adjacent rooms as well as rooms on the floors above and below the original site are also infected.

If you discover bed bugs, it’s important to immediately consult a pest control professional with a proven expertise in bed bug eradication to make certain that all appropriate measures are taken to eliminate the problem.