Orkin Specialists Receive Training on Emerging Illnesses

ATLANTA  – Orkin recently hosted Dr. Emily Zielinski-Gutierrez, a behavioral scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Zielinski-Gutierrez led an in-depth seminar on emerging tick-borne and mosquito-borne illnesses in the U.S. The training was conducted using Orkin’s interactive satellite television communications network. Hundreds of Orkin’s residential and commercial pest control specialists across the country tuned in to the live broadcast to learn about illnesses in the U.S. caused by ticks and mosquitoes.

Facilitated by Dr. Ron Harrison, technical director for Orkin, the broadcast is available to all Rollins brand pest control companies, including PCO Services, HomeTeam Pest Defense, Western Pest Services, The Industrial Fumigant Company, Waltham Services LLC and Crane Pest Control. This is the sixth year Orkin has partnered with CDC to bring training sessions to its pest control specialists. The seminar was broadcast live at 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. (EST). Specialists received Continuing Education Units for watching the broadcast. All of Orkin’s 400 field locations either participated in the live broadcast or will view the program through a video-on-demand feature within the next two weeks.

Dr. Zielinski-Gutierrez discussed emerging tick-borne diseases and mosquito-borne disease in the U.S. She discussed the spread of West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis and Dengue Fever and offered prevention tips for both homeowners and technicians.

“Orkin’s partnership with the CDC allows our pest control specialist to have access to the most up-to-date public health information and trends,” said John Wilson, president of Orkin USA. “Our specialists are then able to use this information to protect our clients and their families.”