PHOENIX (AP) - An Arizona state department office has temporarily closed after bedbugs were discovered in the building.

The Arizona Republic reported Tuesday that the state Department of Economic Security office in Surprise is expected to close through Sept. 30 as a safety precaution to staff, clients and community partners.

The Republic reported the closure comes after employees told the Phoenix News Times that caseworkers were rescheduling appointments to avoid spreading the insects.

Agency officials say the site’s 135 employees should not conduct any external visits to clients and should not remove belongings from the office.

Officials say a pest-control company has been doing regular inspections, but the bedbugs were not eliminated.

The department provides temporary assistance for residents in need and coordinates care for people with developmental disabilities.

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Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com

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