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SALT LAKE CITY — After a case of bedbugs closed the University of Utah library over the weekend, the library is slated to reopen fully by Tuesday.
Tuesday, a patron reported bugs in the upholstered chairs on the third floor of the library. The pests were identified by a pest control company shortly after as bedbugs. The chairs were immediately put in plastic bags to contain the bedbugs.
Saturday, the rest of the library was closed while the pest control company treated for the pests. The upholstered chairs were treated in a heat chamber at 140 degrees, killing the bugs and any eggs that may be in the upholstery. Additionally, a non-toxic compound treatment was laid down in the carpet.
Monday, the first floor of the library reopened for classes. Valoree Dowell, interim director of Communications for the U. of U. said the school expected to reopen the second and third floors for classes Tuesday.
“The good news is that there are many other places to study on the campus. Officials felt it was most important to get this done quickly and efficiently so that they could get back to business as rapidly as possible,” Dowell said.
Dowell said there have not been reports of bedbugs in other campus buildings. She said the bugs were likely carried in by a person.
“It’s not unusual for them to be discovered in large, public buildings where human beings congregate,” Dowell said. “These are not a public health risk, it’s mainly a nuisance and we jumped on it as quickly as we could.”
Video Contributing: Mike Anderson
