CDC Expert Trains Orkin Specialists on Pets and Pests

Dr. Ron Harrison, Orkin technical director (left), and Dr. Susan Montgomery from the CDC’s Parasitic Diseases Branch (right) led an in-depth seminar on pets and parasites.

ATLANTA – A specialist from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) educated hundreds of Orkin residential and commercial pest control technicians across the country on pets and parasites, associated diseases and prevention mechanisms during a live broadcast last week. Dr. Susan Montgomery of CDC’s Parasitic Diseases Branch led an in-depth seminar on parasites that pets and humans share using Orkin’s interactive satellite television communications network.

Facilitated by Dr. Ron Harrison, technical director for Orkin, Inc., the broadcast was the second session offered this year by Orkin and the CDC. The organizations expanded their formerly once-a-year, fall program to include a spring and fall training session, four live broadcasts per session and Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for participating technicians in 2009. More than 260 of the company’s 400 field locations participated in the live broadcast; remaining locations will view the program through a video-on-demand feature within the next two weeks.

Dr. Montgomery explained how pets can carry parasites that can infect humans, including tape- and heartworm infections. Technicians learned what parasitic diseases people and pets can share and how to reduce the risk of exposure to these diseases.

“Orkin’s collaboration with the CDC is unique in the industry, and we are proud to host the fall session of our fourth annual training program,” said Glen Rollins, president and chief operating officer of Orkin, Inc. “The CDC training sessions are an important tool for keeping field employees, and in turn, customers, armed with the information they need to help protect their families, including household pets, from pests and related diseases.”