2013 Tick-Borne Disease IPM Conference
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will co-host a two-day conference on Tick-Borne Disease Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The conference will bring together representatives from numerous federal, state and local agencies, academia, and stakeholders to discuss the current state of IPM for the management of tick-borne diseases. Note: This conference is focused on IPM for the prevention of tick-borne diseases and will not address medical, diagnostic, or treatment issues.
When: March 5th (federal partners only) and March 6th (researchers, partners, stakeholders, public)
Where: U.S. EPA, 2777 S. Crystal Dr. (One Potomac Yard), Arlington VA 22202
- March 5: Federal Partners Only (Room S4370/4380)
- March 6 : Researchers, Partners, Stakeholders, Public (1st Floor Conference Center)
- Local Information
Conference Agenda (4pp, 488k about PDF)
Background
This conference builds upon EPA’s 2011 Promoting Community IPM for Preventing Tick-Borne Diseases Conference (epa.gov/pestwise/events/tick_meeting.html). The 2011 conference captured the research and information surrounding prevention of tick-borne diseases from the perspective of government and non-government stakeholders. Key outcomes, summarized at epa.gov/pestwise/events/ticks/tickconferencereport.pdf, included the identification of successful strategies for community IPM programs, research priorities and knowledge gaps, and potential partnerships.
The Tick-Borne Disease Integrated Pest Management (TBD-IPM) Workgroup was borne out of the conference. Formed under the auspices of the Public Health Pesticide Consortium, the TBD-IPM workgroup is an alliance of 14 federal agencies addressing the recommendations of the 2011 conference and developing a white paper that details federal sector research needs, including developing measurable IPM tools to reduce risk from tick-borne disease.
TBD-IPM Workgroup efforts include:
- Collecting, integrating, and sharing best practices, including communications tools and resources, for IPM of ticks and TBDs,
- Identifying and prioritizing research gaps and needs,
- Sharing agency-specific strategic plans relating to the control of infected ticks and the pathogens they may transmit, and
- Developing a white paper and strategy for IPM and prevention of TBD and consensus documents that can be shared across U.S. federal agencies for the purpose of promoting and coordinating IPM programs and activities.
The 2013 conference will:
- Complete the Lyme Disease and other Tick-Borne Diseases of Humans in the United States White Paper
- Identify research strategies to support community IPM programs
- Facilitate collaboration among federal partners to support research initiatives
- Provide information on current tick IPM research
Questions? Please contact EPA's Candace Brassard (brassard.candace@epa.gov)
