Adult deer tick. PHOTO: Scott Bauer/USDA ARS
Ticks that transmit Lyme disease and other pathogens are spreading geographically, with a 44.7 percent increase in the number of counties with these ticks present since 1998, according to a new study published this month by scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Human cases of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesiosis have also increased both in number and geographical distribution in the eastern United States since surveillance and reporting began.
The Integrated Tick Management Symposium: Solving America’s Tick-Borne Disease Problem will take place May 16-17, 2016 at the Westin Washington, D.C. City Center. Hosted by the CDC, the Entomological Society of America and the IPM Institute of North America, objectives include:
- Address the current status of the tick and tick-borne disease (TBD) problem and current practices for integrated tick management (ITM).
- Detail the connection among ITM, reducing tick populations and disease transmission.
- Identify knowledge gaps and prioritize needs.
- Identify existing and potentially impactful approaches, collaborations, and level of investment required to significantly reduce the burden of illness and public health impact of ticks and TBDs.
- Summarize findings for informing various constituencies, including government at all levels, funding agencies, the media, and the public about the impact of TBDs and possible solutions.
- Participate in an optional visit to Capitol Hill to educate policymakers coordinated by the Entomological Society of America.
Researchers, educators, advocates, policy makers and professionals from the healthcare, health insurance and industries with outdoor workers subject to tick exposure will learn the latest science on effective prevention and intervention strategies to reduce tick-borne disease transmission.
Attendees will also have the option to participate in a post-conference visit to Capitol Hill to inform policymakers about the need for increased investment in tick management and tick-borne disease prevention.
Registration and more information are available at EntSoc.org/ITMS.
Sponsorships, exhibitor and poster opportunities for the symposium are also available.
Current sponsors include:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Entomological Society of America
- North Central IPM Center
- IPM Institute of North America
Sounds like this will be a very interesting symposium! Hope lots of people attend to learn more about ticks and the diseases they can spread.