MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. – The American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) wrapped up its 75th Annual Meeting earlier this month in New Orleans, La. Unprecedented attendance and a superior program made this meeting a definite success. The AMCA Annual Meeting is the world’s leading event for researchers, educators, vector control professionals and students looking for the latest findings on mosquito research.
The AMCA Annual Meeting, held April 6 – 9, 2009 at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans, drew a crowd of nearly 1,000 attendees. Those attending gained valuable knowledge through the numerous presentations, exhibits, and equipment demonstrations that highlighted the latest science, technology, and products used to conduct research and control vectors.
Sessions of particular interest this year included
- A workshop entitled, “Making Your Voice Heard at Congress and Federal Regulatory Agencies: A Workshop for Beginners” featuring Senator David Vitter (R-LA) as a panelist
- A comprehensive update on West Nile Virus by the director of the Vector-borne and Infectious Disease Division of the Centers for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention affirming the continued presence of West Nile Virus nationwide
- A plenary session address and symposium on the future of Public Health Pesticides
- Moving testimony from a West Nile Virus survivor about the profound effects of the disease and the need for mosquito control measures to combat its vectors
- A day-long educational outreach program involving 28 mosquito professionals teaching more than 600 students at a local inner city elementary school
- Symposia and plenary session presentations on the effects of court rulings on mosquito control operations
More than one million people die from mosquito-borne diseases worldwide every year. Indeed, since 1999 nearly 29,000 cases of West Nile virus, with more than 11,000 cases of neuroinvasive disease and more than 1,000 fatalities have occurred in the United States, the world’s most advanced nation. That’s why the world’s leading authorities on mosquitoes, entomology, and public health gather ever year at the AMCA Annual Meeting to evaluate research and recent findings, discuss abatement technologies, learn more about the latest products and services available and make predictions for the upcoming mosquito season.
The outstanding lineup of speakers and the opportunity for networking has made this the must go to event for professionals in the field. “Our experience with the emergence and spread of West Nile virus has sensitized public health officials to the devastating effects of mosquito-borne diseases on even advanced economies and health infrastructures,” said Joe Conlon, Technical Advisor for the American Mosquito Control Association. “As the world shrinks through trade and tourism, we can expect to be continually challenged by exotic diseases far worse than West Nile Virus only an 8-hour plane flight away. We must remain prepared to combat these diseases through a solid public health infrastructure, to include mosquito control. The knowledge gained through the operational studies presented at this conference is designed to do just that.”
For more information about AMCA, contact: 15000 Commerce Parkway, Suite C, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054; phone: 856-439-9222; fax: 856-439-0525; email: amca@mosquito.org or visit the Web site at www.mosquito.org.