[Viewpoint] Being A Protector Of Public Health

This month, PCT magazine focuses on the issue of PCOs and public health. The idea for this series of articles began at the National Pest Management Association’s public health conference in New Orleans in January. At that meeting, Cindy Mannes, executive director of the Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), presented information about research PPMA has done with homeowners about their attitudes toward mosquito control. That research — some of which can be viewed at www.pctonline.com/ppma — is compelling.

According to PPMA, people have changed the way they live in dealing with the threat of West Nile virus. For example, in a focus group held in Austin, Texas, one woman said, "We started treating the yard after my son came in with over 30 bites on his back. I didn’t want my children’s friends to go home looking like that. They might wonder what kind of a mother I am and how well I’m taking care of their children."

That’s a powerful statement. But it’s wasted if PCOs don’t put it to use.

The industry – via PPMA – has made a decision to promote your services as public health-related. But no matter how much it is promoted by PPMA, the idea won’t take hold unless it is embraced by the industry.

Is this something that pest management professionals will embrace? I hope so. Because once the first West Nile case occurs this year, mosquitoes will be in the news for the rest of the year. That means your company will likely start receiving calls from customers and non-customers about mosquitoes and other public health pests.

You may not want to do mosquito control. That’s fine. But in every part of the United States there is a health threat that relates to pests — including Lyme disease, hantavirus, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and cockroach-induced asthma. Do you control rodents, ticks or roaches?

Even if you don’t offer mosquito control services, you should know that you’re going to receive inquiries from customers about mosquito control. How am I so sure? Because PPMA found that 47 percent of people interviewed said they would be most likely to call a PCO for help in controlling mosquitoes. Think about that for a minute. Have you considered how you will handle those calls?

One way is by taking advantage of all the work PPMA’s done in developing mosquito fact sheets (see related story on page 36).

Or maybe you should consider entering the mosquito control market. While some mosquito control is performed by counties, mosquito control boards, etc., there is an opportunity for your company to sell such services to homeowners and businesses. Contact your distributor or call your manufacturers’ reps. They’re there to help you. Many manufacturers offer products designed to help you enter the mosquito control market.

According to the CDC, in 2002, there were 3,893 laboratory-positive human cases and 254 deaths due to West Nile virus. Is your company prepared for 2003?

The author is editor of PCT magazine.