So I found a couple of places that have recently organized bed bug public meetings. I’m sure it’s not even close to a complete list.
Connecticut
A Connecticut Bed Bug Forum was held at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) on March 17 (press release, PDF). This page at CAES contains several documents on the forum, including a research presentation (PDF) (interesting) by Dr. John Anderson and a legal presentation (PDF) by a Connecticut State’s Attorney. Notice also the bed bug control guide in English, Spanish and Mandarin. This event was organized by entomologist Dr. Gale Ridge in cooperation with the Connecticut Departments of Health, Environmental Protection, Division of Criminal Justice, the Norwalk Health Department and Connecticut Pest Control.
As if that were not enough, a second forum will be held on October 15 (PDF).
Hartford
Hartford will hold a Community Forum on Bed Bugs on July 15, 2009. This forum is hosted by the Department of Health and Human Services Health Education Program.
Winnipeg
A Bed Bug Symposium (agenda, PDF) was held on March 4 at the University of Manitoba.
There was, by the way, an interesting press item about bed bugs in Manitoba recently which indicates the extent of the social impact: when home health care workers “pull their services” because apartments are crawling with bed bugs or because of the pesticide treatments for bed bugs, are bed bugs not an emergency health matter for seniors receiving care? Also, notice the update in this story on 260 Nassau Street, the Winnipeg building which was evacuated for 5 days for bed bug treatments that we mentioned briefly when we were discussing our own public housing bed bug problems. Four apartments are still infested. Four sounds hopeful. But four is not zero. Zero is the ever-elusive bed bug number you want.
Yes, I know. But I’ve never organized anything like this. But we will, I guess. I’m not sure why I’m intimidated by this. But someone has to do it.
These pages may be of related interest:
