Boston and Baltimore leap into the top 15, 11 new cities join the list

ATLANTA, May 20, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — For the sixth year in a row, the Atlanta area tops pest control leader Orkin’s Top 50 Mosquito Cities list, released today. Second on the list is the New York market, which moved up one spot from last year, followed by the Chicago and Houston-area markets. Boston and Baltimore rose 20 and 27 spots, respectively. Eleven new cities and metro areas were added to the list including Denver; Burlington, New York; Milwaukee; Cincinnati; Greensboro, N.C.; Savannah, Ga.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Baton Rouge; Amarillo, Texas; Madison, Wisc. and Charleston, S.C.

“Mosquitoes are more than annoying; they can be a major health threat,” said Dr. Mark Beavers, Orkin entomologist. “Mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus, encephalitides, dengue, chikungunya and for those who may remember, Zika, threaten the safety of humans and pets.”

Mosquito season starts when spring temperatures arrive, and they are most active when temperatures rise above 80 degrees. Breeding season is usually July through September, while peak West Nile virus season is typically late August through September, and sometimes lasts through October. Mosquito activity usually drops when temperatures dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and stops when temperatures drop below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit).

Orkin’s Top 50 Mosquito Cities list ranks metro areas by the number of mosquito customers served from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019. The list includes both residential and commercial treatments.

With the presence of West Nile virus in the U.S., 2,544 cases in 2018, it remains a concern as there is no treatment, cure or vaccine for the virus. One of the best strategies for eliminating mosquito-borne diseases is to reduce populations of the mosquitoes that spread them.

Below are the most common types of mosquitoes in the U.S.:

• Culex Mosquitoes: These mosquitoes are seen throughout the United States and can transmit West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis and even bird malaria. They are mostly night biters but can also bite at dusk and dawn.
• Aedes Mosquitoes: These are commonly known as floodwater mosquitoes, and they may live in a variety of habitats ranging from swamps to natural containers such as soda cans and pet water bowls. They can transmit several diseases including dengue, chikungunya, Zika and dog heartworm. Many of these are day-biters with the peak periods in the morning and afternoon.
• Anopheles Mosquitoes: In addition to spreading malaria, which has been eradicated from the United States but is constantly reintroduced due to infected travelers from foreign countries, Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit dog heartworm as well as a few viruses. They have been found in most states and are most active at night.   

“Male adult mosquitoes feed on plant nectar, while females need a blood meal to support reproduction,” said Beavers. “Reducing items that attract mosquitoes, actively working to prevent them from breeding in their required water habitats, wearing insect repellent or moving inside the home during peak biting times are ways to protect one’s self from mosquito bites.”

After mating, females typically seek a blood meal to aid in egg production. Those eggs are laid in water or just above the edge of the waterline (for example, floodwater mosquitoes). Those water sources may be standing pools or stagnant water but can also be manmade sources such as bird baths, buckets and even mud puddles. Egg numbers vary from species to species but there can be more than 100 eggs in a single laying. And in as a little as four days, a single mosquito can multiply into as many as 400.

Orkin recommends the following tips to help residents protect against mosquitoes: 
Eliminate Mosquito-Friendly Conditions in and Around Your Yard

• Any object that has the potential to hold water should be removed or cleaned out frequently, as mosquitoes can breed in just an inch of standing water.
• Clean gutters to avoid rainwater build up. Be sure to check for puddles that form on the roof from rain water, leaking pipes or even condensation from air conditioners.
• Change the water (at minimum) weekly in bird baths, fountains, potted plants and any containers that hold standing water, including wading pools.
• Keep swimming pool water treated and circulating.
• Trim shrubbery, as adult mosquitoes like to rest in dark, protected areas with high humidity, such as under the leaves of lush vegetation.

Prevent Mosquitoes from Biting

• Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Mosquitoes can bite through tight clothing.
• Apply an EPA-registered mosquito repellent containing products such as DEET, picaridin or IR3535.

Eliminate Entry Points

• Inspect doors and windows for drafts or openings around their perimeters and window air conditioning units. Install weather stripping around doors and utilize caulk around window frames. 
• Ensure that window and door screens are securely in place and free of holes or tears.
• Keep doors tightly closed. A propped-open door is a welcome mat for mosquitoes to enter your home.

For more mosquito information and prevention tips, visit Orkin.com.                             

About Orkin, LLC
Founded in 1901, Atlanta-based Orkin is an industry leader in essential pest control services and protection against termite damage, rodents and insects. The company operates more than 400 locations with almost 8,000 employees. Using a proprietary, three-step approach, Orkin provides customized services to approximately 1.7 million homeowners and businesses in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America, Central America, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Asia, the Mediterranean and Africa. Orkin is committed to studying pest biology and applying scientifically proven methods. The company collaborates with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and eight major universities to conduct research and help educate consumers and businesses on pest-related health threats. Learn more about Orkin at Orkin.com. Orkin is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rollins Inc. (NYSE: ROL). Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

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SOURCE Orkin

Digital info helps Americans avoid illness, injury

ATLANTA, May 17, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Whether you are planning an overseas vacation, getting ready for a staycation, or will be working outdoors, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest health tips, alerts, and social media updates include practical advice for travelers, swimmers, and everyone who wants to beat the summer heat.

“Summer is a great time to travel and enjoy the great outdoors, but it’s important to take simple, common-sense precautions,” said CDC Principal Deputy Director Anne Schuchat, M.D. “From information about travel vaccinations to tips to prevent insect bites, CDC provides resources to help keep you and your loved ones healthy and safe.”

Travel abroad safely

Before traveling abroad, check out health and safety risks at your destination. Animal illnesses and drinking water might be very different from what you’re used to and could make you sick. Get needed vaccinations at least 4 to 6 weeks before you leave to ensure you’re protected by the time you travel.

CDC’s Summer Travel Abroad site has health and safety tips for anyone traveling outside the United States. CDC’s latest traveler’s health updates include information about measles and malaria. Many countries are experiencing measles outbreaks, including Brazil, England, France, Israel, Japan and Ukraine. Check out CDC’s Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) to get the latest information. New anti-malarial medications are available for travelers to parts of the Caribbean, Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. About 1,700 cases of malaria are diagnosed every year in U.S. travelers who go abroad.  

Swimming safety

Swimming, one of the most popular summer activities for children and adults, gets the spotlight May 20–26, when we observe Healthy and Safe Swimming Week.

This year’s theme, “Pool Chemistry for Healthy and Safe Swimming,” highlights the roles that swimmers, parents of young swimmers, aquatics and beach staff, residential pool owners, and public health officials play in preventing disease outbreaks, drowning, and pool chemical injuries.

CDC recommends that everyone check out the latest inspection score of pools where you plan to swim. Look for inspection scores online or on site. Chemicals like chlorine are added to pool water to kill germs and stop them from spreading, helping to keep swimmers healthy. However, mishandling pool chemicals can cause injuries. Owners and operators of both public and privately owned pools, hot tubs/spas, and water playgrounds can take steps to prevent pool chemical injuries.

Young Worker Safety and Health

Young workers (ages 15–24) have higher rates of job-related injury compared to adult workers. To help keep young workers safe at their summer jobs, CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is participating in the social media campaign, #MySafeSummerJob, to provide workplace safety and health information and resources to employers of youth, young workers, parents, and educators. My Safe Summer Job is a collaboration between government agencies—including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and NIOSH—and numerous professional and non-profit organizations, including CareerSafe and the National Safety Council. The campaign is raising awareness about job-related hazards and how to address them, workers’ rights and responsibilities, voicing safety concerns on the job, and injury prevention.

Beat the heat and rays

Heat kills more than 600 people in the United States each year.  Preventing heat-related illnesses, including heat stroke and heat exhaustion, is important for people of all ages, but extreme heat poses the greatest risk for people under age 4 and over 65, and anyone who has a pre-existing medical condition or who lives in a home without air conditioning. The best ways to protect yourself from heat include staying cool, hydrated, and informed: find air-conditioning during hot hours and wear cool clothing, drink plenty of liquids, and pay attention to heat advisories.  NIOSH offers several recommendations and tools that employers can incorporate into trainings, and workers can use in real-time, in order to help stay safe when working in heat.

Sunburn is a common summertime injury. Unprotected skin can be burned by the sun’s UV rays in as little as 15 minutes, but can take up to 12 hours for the skin to show the damage. CDC recommends staying out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when its UV rays are at their highest level. Sunscreen is recommended for anyone working and playing outside in the summer, even on cloudy days. Hats, sunglasses, and long sleeves are also recommended for outdoors activities.

Children’s health and safety

Summer activities, such as riding a bike and playground time, are great for a child’s development. To keep kids healthy and safe all summer long, be sure children use helmets that fit well while riding their bikes and follow playground safety tips from CDC’s website. Parents should ensure children stay safe while traveling in cars. Children should be properly buckled in a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt —whichever is appropriate for their weight, height, and age — on every trip.  Properly buckling up reduces serious and fatal injuries by up to 80 percent. Children under age 13 are best protected in the back seat.  

Stay up to date on vaccines

Making sure your child is up to date on vaccines is key to protecting them against serious diseases throughout their life. The summer is a great time to make appointments for your child to get recommended vaccines or to catch up on vaccines they might have missed when they were younger. CDC’s recommended immunization schedule is safe and effective at protecting your child from 14 infectious diseases like measles, chickenpox, and rubella.  It’s based on how your child’s immune system responds to vaccines at various ages, and how likely your child is to be exposed to a particular disease. CDC also recommends three vaccines for all 11- to 12-year-old boys and girls to prevent infections that can cause meningitis, HPV cancers, and whooping cough.  More information about how vaccines work, where to find vaccines in your area, and what vaccines your child needs can be found on CDC vaccine website, www.cdc.gov/vaccines.

Food safety

Food poisoning peaks during summer months due to warmer temperatures, which can let foodborne germs thrive. Each year, 1 in 6 Americans get sick from eating contaminated food. CDC also has advice for food safety when grilling.

Insect protection

Protect yourself and your family from insect bites by using Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with active ingredients such as DEET. Apply repellents only to exposed skin or clothing, as directed on the product label and always follow instructions when applying insect repellent to children.

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Contact: CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

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SOURCE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

LONG BEACH, Calif., May 16, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In honor of May’s Older Americans Month, SCAN Health Plan®, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage health plans, today announced the launch of “stages: 100 Over 100,” a social media campaign that documents images and stories of seniors aged 100 and older. The digital docuseries spotlights SCAN’s centenarian members, and aims to raise awareness of older adults in our communities and break the stereotypes associated with aging.

“Seniors are at the heart of what we at SCAN do every day, and we wanted to create something that would bring that senior focus to the community at large,” said Chris Wing, CEO of SCAN Health Plan. “We hope stages can serve as a call to action of sorts. All of us know a senior who deserves our time and attention – perhaps use this as an opportunity to connect, share and learn from and with them.”

Unveiled to coincide with the annual observance of Older American’s Month and in recognition of the more than 80,000 centenarians living in America today, stages will feature digital portraits and stories from some of the health plan’s members who have reached the milestone of living to the age of 100 and beyond. The images and stories will be featured on SCAN’s social channels throughout 2019.

“We have more than 300 members who are 100 or older, so we thought they would be the perfect start for this series. They really bring to life the beauty and diversity in aging,” continued Wing. “SCAN is committed to ensuring older adults have access to services and resources to remain healthy and independent, and we’re very proud to help celebrate these remarkable seniors.”

SCAN is collaborating with Los Angeles-based photographer, Robert Duron, to capture the images and stories of the centenarians. With over 25 years of experience spanning editorial and corporate campaigns, Duron brings a unique visual storytelling ability to stages. For the centenarian portraits and behind-the-scenes interviews, Duron accompanies SCAN Senior Advocates as they visit as many of the plan’s centenarians as possible on their birthdays.  

“I’m thrilled to be partnering with SCAN to elevate and recognize our seniors,” stated Duron. “The opportunity to publicly showcase portraits and stories of these unique and memorable people is a privilege.”

To learn more, please visit http://bit.ly/stages100over100, and follow the campaign on SCAN’s social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About SCAN Health Plan  
SCAN Health Plan is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage plans, serving more than 200,000 members in California. Since its founding in 1977, SCAN has been a mission-driven organization dedicated to keeping seniors healthy and independent. Independence at Home, a SCAN community service, provides vitally needed services and support to seniors and their caregivers. SCAN also offers education programs, community funding, volunteer opportunities and other community services throughout our California service area. To learn more, visit scanhealthplan.com or facebook.com/scanhealthplan or follow us on Twitter @scanhealthplan. 

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SOURCE SCAN Health Plan

MALVERN, Pennsylvania, May 16, 2019 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — We are pleased to launch our new Fusion Equipment Package from Forest Dental. The Fusion equipment package emerges from the synthesis of two great brands, Forest Dental Equipment and DentalEZ® Equipment. The Fusion Package combines high quality electronics, hydraulics, bearings and surface treatments while staying focused on the elements of design and affordability. Visit ForestDental.com for information on Fusion Equipment.

The Fusion Operatory Package consists of a patient chair, dental unit, and light and is offered in both Pivot and Fixed with Sidebox Configurations. “We focus on the details, just as a dentist does,” notes Molly McKenzie, Director of Sales and Marketing for Forest Dental. “Our gap tolerances, fit and finish all provide our customers with a great look, design, unmatched quality and a great price point.”

Forest Dental was acquired by DentalEZ Integrated Solutions in late 2018. Forest continues to operate and manufacture equipment from their Hillsboro, Oregon location, including the new Fusion package. Forest has been an industry growth leader with extra attention to detail and quality, from tight tolerances between parts to durable finishes and metal components for maximum value. Visit ForestDental.com to learn more about Fusion Operatory Packages and Forest Dental’s full line of operatory equipment.

About DentalEZ^®
DentalEZ Integrated Solutions is committed to providing real solutions to everyday challenges in oral healthcare by uniquely combining innovation focused on simplification and efficiency in value-based products and outstanding customer service and support. DentalEZ manufactures a full line of products and well-known brands including StarDental^® Instruments, DentalEZ^® Equipment, Forest Dental, RAMVAC^® Utility, NevinLabs™ Workstations and Columbia Dentoform^® Teaching Solutions. For more information, please visit www.dentalez.com.

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SOURCE DentalEZ