John Brown University called in a pest-control company for two rounds of treatments in December and January to eliminate bedbugs at a residence hall.
"I think it's subsided substantially," said Stephen Beers, vice president for student development at the Siloam Springs university. He added that the university has no "significant ongoing concern" about the insects, which can leave bite marks but are not known to spread disease.
Beers said evidence of bedbugs has been found only in Mayfield Hall, a women's dormitory with 134 rooms, according to the university's website. Inspections done elsewhere on campus found no evidence of the insects.
Student complaints led the university to investigate the problem, with four rooms in December showing evidence of the insects. Pest treatment took place during the school's winter break.
After school resumed in January, further complaints led the university to schedule more treatment. On Jan. 18, university staff members, including a campus nurse, met with all Mayfield Hall residents about the bedbugs. No more than eight rooms have been found to have signs of infestation, Beers said.
"This is not life-and-death, but it's clearly something that we take seriously," Beers said.
One student chose to move to a different residence hall, Beers said, but no others have been displaced.
Metro on 03/02/2016