ALAMEDA COUNTY HEALTH CARE SERVICES

10AGENCY ALEX BRISCOE, Agency Director AGENDA__May -y(,2011

AGENCY ADMIN. & FINANCE 1000 San Leandro Blvd., SUite 300

San Leandro, CA 94577 April 20, 201] Tel (510) 618-3452

Fax: (510) 351-1367

The Honorable Board of Supervisors County Administration Building 1221 Oak Street Oakland, CA 94612

Dear Board Members:

SUBJECT: Bed Bug Symposium for County-wide Employees

RECOMMENDATION:

1. AUlhorize the Vector Control Service Program to host and fund a Bed Bug Symposium to present infonnation on the biology, ecology, disease transmission potential, inspection, monitoring, pubHc education, and management of Ihis pest; and

2. AuU10rize expenditures not to exceed $5,000 for this half-day symposiwn at the San Leandro Marina Community Center for facility rental, refreshments, lunch and reimbursement for three guest speakers who will travel from other stares or outside of Alameda County,

SUMMARY:

To provide training for County-wide employees who interact with the public while conducting their work (healthy home, lead poisoning, social services, public health, senior care, and code en forcement) to understand the public health issues related to this pest, recognize and inspect for bed bug infestations, and public outreach.

Bed bugs have resurged as a major nuisance pest across the United States and in Alameda CUWlty since 2000. Although bed bugs are not known to be disease transmitters, their bites can cause intense itching and scratching that leads to secondary infection. More importantly, the psychological effects of having a bed bug infestation and the cost to eliminate is beyond the reach of the most affected-seniors, and low income residents. Although there are no current effective means to control bed bugs, early detection and reporting is the key to successful intervention. Henceforth, anyone who may come in contact with bed bugs need to know what they look like, where they

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hide, and what can be done to control them. It is important that County employees receive the training so that they can identify bed bugs, report infestations to Vector Control, and assist the Department in curbing the spread of this pest.

DISCUSSIONIFINDINGS:

The Bed Bug Symposium will have six speakers to cover a broad range of topics. Two of the speakers are from Ohio and Nevada, another speaker is from Anaheim, CA, and the remaining three speakers are local. Each speaker will speak for 45 minutes with a panel discussion afterward to address questions and comments from the audience.

Currently in California, the Department of Public Health produces a document "Guidelines to Bed Bug Contror' and the City and County of San Francisco enacted a Red Bug Ordinance in 2006. No other State, County, or local agencies has taken active approaches to bed bug identification, education, or management. Dr. Susan Jones is an extension entomologist with Ohio State University and was the lead scientist in developing the Ohio Bed Bug Response Plan. Dr. Christian Hardigree is an attomey and professor in hotel management at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, a legal expert on bed bug litigations in hotels, apartments, and community housing. Laura Krueger is an assistant vector ecologist with the Orange County Vector Control District, worked in the pest control industry, written articles on bed bug control, and is a co-author of the Guidelines 10 Bed Bug Control.

Speaker Company Location Travel Lodging Susan Jones Ohio State Univ. Columbus, OH $800 $175

Christian Hardigree

Univ.ofNevada Las Vegas

Las Vegas, NY $400 $175

Laura Krueger Orange Co. VCD Anaheim, CA $300 0 Denise Boni lIa CA Public

Health Richmond, CA 0 0

Lucia Hui Alameda VCSD Alameda, CA 0 a Bonnie Hansen Target Specialty San Jose 0 0

Travel expenses for the out-of-state and outside Alameda County speakers are estimated to be $1,500. Hotel lodging is estimated at $350. Facility rental is $500. Depending on the attendance, refresJunents and lunch costs range from $2,000 to $2,500. The funding will corne from Vector Control.

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FINANCING:

No net county cost will be incurred as a result of your Board' approval. The appropriation and revenue necessary to carry out this matter are included in the FY 20 I0-201\ budget. Therefore, no budgetary adjustments are required at this time.

Very truly yours,

lex Briscoe, Director Health Care Services Agency

AB:hn

cc: Auditor-Controller County Counsel