Bed Bugs Spotted In UTSA Housing

SAN ANTONIO, TX - The University of Texas at San Antonio has notified students to look out for bed bugs.

UTSA says they have detected a few of these tiny biters on campus at the University Oaks, Chisholm Hall and Laurel Village residence facilities. They say three confirmed cases were resolved, and a fourth is currently being treated.

University officials sent out email notices to students in both the affected facilities and also to those living in unaffected residence halls.

"With the health and safety of our students in mind, we are working with a local extermination firm to resolve the bed bug issue in one of our residence facilities," said Lionel Maten, UTSA director of housing and residence life. "The firm has worked with universities across the region to remediate bed bug incidents and is going above and beyond our protocol in the affected facility. We anticipate resolving the issue today, March 21."

UTSA says here are some identifying signs that you too have been visited by bed bugs:

• Blood spots about the size of a pencil tip on mattress or linens
• Small black dirt specks in seams, cracks or crevices of beds and furniture
• Small whitish casing in seams, cracks or crevices of beds and furniture
• Actual bugs present (bed bugs are small and flat, about the size of a common wood tick)
• Unexplained rash on your body -- bed bug bites resemble mosquito and flea bites and tend to appear in a straight line
• UTSA students who believe they have been bitten by bed bugs may get treatment at the UTSA Student Health Services on the main and downtown campuses.

The Texas Department of State Health Services has more information on bed bugs on their website.