EPA to Host Conference on Preventing Tick-Borne Diseases

WASHINGTON - EPA will host a national community conference, "Promoting Community Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to prevent Tick-Borne Diseases," March 30-31, 2011 (8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Eastern Time), at the Holiday Inn National Airport in Arlington, VA.

The conference will be held under the auspices of EPA's Pesticide Program Dialog Committee (Public Health Work Group).  The objectives of the conference are to identify knowledge gaps and barriers to effective community-wide tick control, propose the next steps in addressing knowledge gaps and eliminating barriers, and develop a framework for addressing the highest priority needs. 

Conference agenda highlights include:

* Protecting Children in Schools and Outdoor Environments
* Creating Institutional Structures for Community-Level IPM
* Role of Landscape Planning in Tick Management
* Public Outreach Strategies to Reach Targeted Populations
* Protecting Outdoor Workers Exposed to Ticks
* Population-Based Prevention Strategies
* Research Strategies
* Summary of Research Needs and Knowledge Gaps

Those wishing to attend the meeting must register on or before March 18, 2011. 

For more information about the conference, including registration and agenda, visit: http://www.epa.gov/pesp/events/index.html