University of Manitoba residence fumigated for bed bugs

At least two dorm rooms at the University of Manitoba's St. John's College residence are infested with bed bugs, which has forced officials to make alternative housing arrangements for affected students.

The infested rooms have already been fumigated, and rooms nearby have been vacated, Kathleen Matheos, associate dean at the university, told CBC News Friday. She said university officials are taking the issue very seriously.

"It's not a health risk, but it's certainly not a very pleasant situation for young students," she said, adding that all affected students will have been placed in a nearby hotel by Sunday.

The university will provide them with bus passes to get between the campus and their temporary residence.

"I really [didn't] expect there was bedbugs in the residence," said Magali Leveille, a student who was recently told by a doctor that the reddish bumps on her arms and legs are bed bug bites.

"I was really surprised when the doctor told me it was bed bugs. I thought it was just like mosquitoes or something like that. I'm really, really not comfortable with this."

Leveille moved to Winnipeg from Montreal to brush up on her English through a program at the university that includes accommodations at the campus. The program brings in students from Canada and abroad that want to improve their English language skills.

Some say the bed bug experience has ruined the program.

"With me, I just want to go home, and I'm just upset about that, and it's enough," said Leveille. "The bed bugs, it's really not funny, and I don't want to be in the program anymore."