Alameda County Vector Control Services Lab To Have Open House

From ACVCSD: On Wednesday, July 25, 2018 the Alameda County Vector Control Services District (ACVCSD) will be hosting an open house for their newly constructed state-of-the-art laboratory. The public is invited to attend this free community friendly event that will include a ribbon cutting ceremony, interactive lab tours led by Vector Control’s biologists, ecologists, and staff, refreshments, and more. The event will be from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the ACVCSD’s office located at 1131 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 166 in Alameda. Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan will be providing welcoming remarks at 5:00 p.m.

The $2.5 million laboratory project completed construction in May 2018. The ACVCSD’s newly constructed laboratory is composed of seven rooms where different aspects of research are conducted to support the overall epidemiologic and surveillance programs. This includes rooms for Polymerase Chain Reaction & Microbial testing, insecticide testing, vertebrate testing, an insectary to raise insects, lab rearing/cold storage, and the main laboratory where samples are processed and arthropods are identified. “Alameda County Vector Control Services District is excited and proud to have a scientifically advanced laboratory enabling us the ability to conduct on-going disease surveillance, epidemiological research, and expand epidemiological programs and projects that include testing for West Nile virus, Dengue virus, Zika virus, and host surveillance and testing for pathogens that cause the Bubonic Plague, Hantavirus, Murine Typhus, Lyme disease and more,” said Alameda County Vector Control Services District Manager, Robert Gay.

In 2017, the ACVCSD responded to over 7,700 requests for service, including 2,917 service requests related to rodent problems, 2,267 service requests concerning wildlife, 701 service requests related to raccoons, 571 service requests related to skunks, 14 mosquito related service requests, 848 service requests for venomous arthropods, and over 440 service requests related to nuisance pests throughout Alameda County.

“The Alameda County Vector Control Services District provides service investigations, wildlife management and rabies control, rodent control, investigate solid waste problems, vector borne disease surveillance and control, public education and information, and legal enforcement. It is essential to have a high quality laboratory and equipment that aid in the protection of public health,” said Alameda County Department of Environmental Health Director, Ronald Browder.

“The Alameda County Vector Control Services District is one of only two districts in the State of California with an extensive rodent control program. During the past 8 years, District staff has identified several dangerous vectors that have caused harm in our communities. We hope you can join us in celebrating the great work of the District and their new laboratory,” said Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan.

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