Sep 29

West Nile Virus Conference

Tuesday, September 29

  • Format: In-Person
  • Where: Wylie Park Birdhouse, 2306 24th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, SD 57401
  • Contact: Stephen Robertson, SDSU Extension Pesticide Education Field Specialist

South Dakota Department of Health, South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and SDSU Extension will host a West Nile Virus Conference on September 29 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Wylie Park Birdhouse (2306 24th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, SD 57401).

Commercial pesticide applicators will have an opportunity to be trained and recertified in categories G (General) and 9 (Public Health Pest Control). This training provides a consistent and knowledgeable workforce to control mosquitoes, ticks, prairie dog fleas, and other health-related pests and the diseases they vector. This event is paid for by Department of Health and is free for public health applicators to attend. 

Schedule

Monday, September 28

  • 5:30 p.m. - Pre-Conference Social Event

Tuesday, September 29

  • 9:00 a.m. - Category G Training - General (core): SD DANR
    For currently licensed pesticide applicators, this hour fulfills category G-General (core) recertification training for SD DANR. Note: attendance at the remainder of the conference is required for successful completion of the category 9-Public Health pest control recertification.
  • 10:00 a.m. - Welcome & Opening Remarks
  • 10:15 a.m. - The Early Years of WNV in South Dakota: Dr. Lon Kightlinger, former SD State Epidemiologist
  • 10:45 a.m. - West Nile Virus - Human Case Surveillance Update: Nathan Wilen, SD Department of Health
  • 11:15 a.m. - Development of a West Nile Virus Mosquito Surveillance Program in Rapid City: Dr. Christine Mathews, MPH, SD School of Mines and Technology
  • 11:45 a.m. - Vendor Introductions
  • 12:00 p.m. - Lunch Break
  • 1:00 p.m. - From Boots on the Ground to Drones in the Sky: Rosa Mueller and Jonathan Lundquist, Minnesota Metropolitan Mosquito Control District
  • 2:30 p.m. -  Weather Outlook - Climate Trends & Vector Season: Laura Edwards, SDSU Extension State Climatologist
  • 3:00 p.m. - Programmatic Update: Dr. Stephen Robertson, SDSU Extension Pesticide Education Field Specialist
  • 3:30 p.m. - Regional Program Feedback and Wrap-Ups
  • 3:45 p.m. -  Discussion & Closing

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