By:
Chuck Woods (352) 392-0400 ext. 240Source(s):
Walter Tabachnick wjt@ifas.ufl.edu, (772) 778-7200, ext. 124,
Jimmy Cheek jgcheek@ufl.edu, (352) 392-1971
VERO BEACH, Fla. — The Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory – one of the world’s largest facilities devoted to understanding and controlling mosquito-borne diseases – will mark its 50th anniversary Feb. 17 when state and local officials gather at the University of Florida lab to review past research accomplishments and future challenges.
“Emerging pathogens are a growing threat to the nation, and Florida’s climate, geographical location and popularity as a tourist destination make the state especially vulnerable to many exotic pests capable of transmitting disease,” said Walter Tabachnick, director of the lab, which is part of UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
“In addition to ramping up our ability to manage emerging pathogens, we need to continue work on mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis, dengue fever and malaria,” he said. “Our scientists provide vital, research-based information to mosquito control districts, public health agencies and consumers in Florida and the nation.”
Established by the Florida Legislature in 1956, the lab now has a staff of about 40, including 10 faculty in UF’s entomology and nematology department, along with several graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and courtesy faculty members.
The 50th anniversary celebration begins at 10:30 a.m. with a welcome address by Jimmy Cheek, UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, followed by Tabachnick who will introduce guests attending the event. The program concludes at noon.
George O’Meara, a professor of entomology who has worked at the lab for more than 30 years, will discuss the history and evolution of the research program over the past five decades. William Opp, president of the American Mosquito Association and director of Lee County Mosquito Control in Fort Myers, Fla., will discuss how the Vero Beach lab has assisted local mosquito control districts in Florida and helped control mosquitoes worldwide.
The keynote address on mosquito control in Florida will be presented by Gordon Patterson, a professor of history at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne.
Tabachnick said that the threat of West Nile and other mosquito-borne diseases will continue to increase, and Florida could become the next hot spot for these health problems.
“Without sounding too alarmist, the West Nile virus has the potential to cause massive human epidemics on a scale not seen in the United States in the past 100 years,” Tabachnick said. “West Nile epidemics have already hit Illinois, Colorado and Arizona during the past five years. Every state, except Alaska, Hawaii and Oregon has experienced human cases or animal infections.”
Although Florida has been spared so far, he said the state has all the ingredients for a massive West Nile epidemic with large populations of vector mosquitoes and people, which make surveillance and prediction even more critical.
“The disease could have a severe impact on the health and well-being of Florida residents and visitors, and hit the state’s tourist industry hard,” Tabachnick said. “Certainly the University of Florida’s current initiative to develop an Institute for Emerging Pathogens is an essential, critical investment to protect Florida’s citizens, animals and crops.”
In its mission to control mosquitoes and other disease-carrying arthropods, the Vero Beach lab works closely with other public and private agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the World Health Organization. Tabachnick said the laboratory receives support from the state through UF and a variety of federal and state agencies. Most research is conducted at the UF lab, but scientists also work on international projects in Belgium, Brazil, Israel, Peru and Uzbekistan. Research conducted by the Vero Beach lab is internationally recognized because of its worldwide health implications.
Major research programs at the lab include: evaluation and prediction of encephalitis epidemics in Florida; mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, dengue fever and malaria; mosquito biochemistry, molecular biology and biotechnology; biology and control of mosquitoes in human-made and natural containers; mosquito production associated with wastewater treatment and disposal areas, and with stormwater detention or retention systems; biology and ecology of the Indian River Lagoon Estuary and associated flora and fauna; genetic morphological and ecological differentiation of malaria-, virus- and filarial-carrying mosquitoes; nutritional needs of Florida mosquitoes; behavior and biocontrol of mosquitoes and sandflies; removal and trapping of mosquitoes and sandflies. The lab also provides extension education programs for the pest control industry and consumers.
Sponsors of the 50th anniversary celebration include the Florida Mosquito Control Association, Clarke Mosquito Control, Bayer Environmental Science, UNIVAR and ADAPCO.
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