The recent reports of bed bug infestations on campus are not an isolated incident, but are part of a growing trend of reports throughout New York state.

In the past few weeks, Binghamton University has seen three cases of bed bug infestations in campus dorm rooms ‘ two in College-In-the-Woods’ Cayuga Hall and one in Mountainview College’s Cascade Hall.

Each of these cases has been treated according to the University’s bed bug policy.

Problems with the nocturnal parasites are not a new occurrence on campus.

‘The first reported occurrences began in 2004 and there have been about 30 cases since,’ said Karen Fennie, spokeswoman for Physical Facilities, ‘although some of the reports were unfounded.’

Reports of bed bug infestations are not isolated to BU. According to the Broome County Health Department, there have been several calls recently throughout the county in regard to the pests.

‘We started noticing an increasing trend in the amount of bed bug reports approximately one year ago,’ said Diane O’Hora, supervising public health educator for Broome County Health Department.

Despite the increase in reports, the county remains confident that the bed bug situation is no cause for alarm.

‘This is not necessarily a widespread problem, just an increasing trend,’ O’Hora said.

For some areas of New York, however, this increasing trend is becoming quite a problem.

According to a September 2006 article in The New York Times, the National Pest Management Association has recorded a 71 percent increase in calls to exterminators regarding bed bug infestations.

Getting rid of bed bugs infestations can be a difficult process, if not impossible.

Although the insects do not transmit disease, they do leave itchy welts after sucking blood from the bite. The indoor pesticides that are mild enough to be used near human beings are sometimes not strong enough to eradicate the bugs.

According to The New York Times, heat treatments and bug-sniffing dogs may be future ways to combat the pests. Plastic mattress encasements are also recommended by some exterminators.

Physical Facilities, however, remains confident in their policy.

‘Our policy goes above and beyond what is required,’ Fennie said.

The school policy includes inspection of the room by residential staff, the discarding of any contaminated bedding and furniture, as well as fumigation by exterminators. Every fumigated room is also given a follow-up treatment 30 days after the initial extermination.

‘This will not be the end of the problem,’ Fennie said. ‘Bed bugs are an ongoing issue in several universities across the country.’

If students suspect their room contains a bed bug infestation, they should report the case immediately to a Residential Life staff member, even if he or she is unsure.

‘[Friday] there was a bed bug report in Choconut,’ Fennie said. ‘As it turns out, it was just dirt.’