Spring mosquito seminars

Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took the remarkable step of elevating its Zika response to the highest emergency (Level 1) priority outbreak.  For a virus not even established in the U.S., this illustrates the respect and fear health officials have for this previously unheard of virus.

So what's the story behind the Zika virus?  How do you recognize the mosquitoes that might transmit it? What's the difference between managing mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus and those that carry Zika? If you don't know all the answers to these questions, it might be time for an update.

For the third year in a row Texas A&M AgriLife Extension will offer regional vector management workshops with a focus on mosquito control.  These workshops are designed to provide municipal and county health department staff, pest management professionals, and anyone with an interest in mosquito control, with a good basic introduction to urban mosquito identification, biology, ecology and diseases--including Zika. In addition, Dr. Sonja Swiger and other experts will provide information about mosquito trapping, surveillance programs and control.

The workshop has been confirmed for sites this year:

• San Antonio - March 8
• Abilene - March 11
• Round Rock - March 21
• Grapevine - April 5
• Rosenberg - April 13

The workshops will run from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm and will offer 5 Agriculture CEUs (2-general, 2 IPM, 1 Laws and Reg) and 3 Structural CEUs (1 Pest, 1 IPM, and 1 Laws/Regs) for pesticide applicators.  There will also be CE units offered for Registered Sanitarians and Animal Control personnel.  Cost of the workshop is $50 per person, which includes a meal.  Preregistration is required.  To register for all but the Grapevine location, click here.

The Grapevine location this year will be co-hosted between AgriLife Extension and Municipal Mosquito.com/EnTex Pest Solutions. The April 5 date will include slightly different times and costs, as well as an expanded agenda. Mosquito and epidemiology experts from the CDC, State of Texas, and North Texas area present the latest information about established and emerging arboviruses, and evolving response scenarios. For more information, go to the 2016 North Texas Mosquito Education Workshop.

This year's workshop, like in previous years, will focus on all mosquito health threats, not just Zika. With mosquito season almost upon us, make sure you and your employees can respond to the many concerns about this year's mosquito season. Don't miss out on this chance to get the latest updates, and be get ready to face an energized public with more questions than ever.

Mosquito Training for Cities

AgriLife Extension will be hosting four Mosquito Training workshops this spring in Fort Worth (Mar 10), Longview (Mar 14), San Antonio (Mar 17), and Round Rock, TX (Mar 24).  The program is designed to help orient municipal employees who need to learn more about setting up a mosquito control program, but some of the information could be useful to pest management professionals involved in mosquito control.  These workshops are being held along with the Texas Department of State Health Services, and will include DSHS speakers at some locations.

The programs have been developed by AgriLife extension entomologist Dr. Sonja Swiger. I will be helping with the first program in Fort Worth, and Wizzie Brown and Molly Keck will be assisting with the San Antonio and Round Rock location trainings, respectively.  For a copy of the flier, click here.

Topics being covered include:

• Vector Borne Disease in Humans & Testing 
• West Nile Virus: Summary of the 2012 Outbreak 
• Mosquito Identification, Biology & Ecology 
• Integrated Mosquito Management 
• Putting Surveillance Data to Work 
• Properly Treating Mosquito Oviposition Sites
• Developing an Effective Vector Education Program

Cost for the program is $50 in all locations except Fort Worth, which is free. To register for the Fort Worth program only, click here.  For the other programs contact Dr. Swiger using information on the flier linked above.