Public Health Command-Pacific > Services > Environmental Health Services

Our Mission

Provide expertise in vector-borne disease prevention/surveillance and programmatic support to Installation Management Command-Pacific Installations, Regional Health Command-Pacific medical organizations, and field preventive medicine units within U.S. Army Pacific and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command areas of responsibility.

Available CONUS and OCONUS Support Services:

Provide the subject-matter-expertise reach-back support for regional MTF and VTF to build medical pest management programs.

• Provide consultations for pest problems in IMCOM-Pacific, and review of integrated pest management programs when requested. On demand, execute pest infestation investigations on site.

• Receive and identify arthropods of pathogenic potential in the AoR, and data pool using DoD and CDC methodologies.

News and Updates

Murder Hornets Update: Asian giant hornet found in Washington state

Can ticks and mosquitos transmit the coronavirus?

Avoid insecticide-treated uniform fabric for DIY coronavirus masks

Tackling mosquitos to protect the force

Venomous Snakes of the Philippines

Areas with risk of dengue

Pest Management Training Courses

ACU’s without Permethrin Allowed for Nursing Soldiers

Make a selection from the drop down menu below to learn more about what we do

Vector-Borne Disease Surveillance Assistance
Pest Management Assistance
Murder Hornet Updates

The Entomological Sciences Division provides in-depth support, training, and guidance on diverse entomological topics with a focus on emerging vector-borne and zoonotic disease surveillance, integrated pest management, and environmental health. Services provided include:

•Disease Vector Surveillance: Responds to new and emerging vector-borne disease threats by coordinating and assisting in the setup of surveillance programs that target disease carrying arthropods

•Identification Services: Identifies submitted arthropods, including mosquitoes, ticks, and other biological samples (e.g., other arthropods, rodents, reptiles, birds, etc.).

•Special Consultation and Tailored Training: Performs quick-response investigations and training on entomological procedures, practices, emerging vector-borne disease surveillance, and other health-related threats.

•Pathogen Diagnostics: Coordinates the testing of arthropods including mosquitoes and ticks as well as environmental samples for a wide range of disease causing organisms

•Health Risk Communication: Provides briefings and other educational material on operational and institutional risk management of vector-borne/zoonotic diseases.

•Deployment Training: Provides training on entomological issues for preventive medicine units preparing to deploy.

•Pest Management Assistance Visits (PMAV): Provides specialized, on-site orientation of newly assigned ESEOs IAW the responsibilities outlined in DA PAM 40-11 and provide specialized field training for PM staff to address region-specific pest problems and emerging vector-borne diseases.

•Installation Medical Entomology & Public Health Support: Reviews documents and program activities and provides solutions to bring your pest management programs in compliance with regulatory requirements and sound integrated pest management practices

•Deployment Training: Provides training on entomological issues for preventive medicine units preparing to deploy.

•Policy Liaison: Identifies entomological and pest management needs in the field/garrison setting to help develop and refine policy and guidance via participation in the Armed Forces Pest Management Board.

On Oct. 24, 2020, Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) destroyed an Asian giant hornet nest on private property in Blaine. It’s believed to be the first such nest found in the United States. Blaine is in the North Western part of Washington State and is on the border with Canada. It is located 127 miles from Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Workers wasps can forage up to 5 miles from their nest.

The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) is better known as the “murder hornet”. A nest was first discovered in Nanaimo, B.C., Vancouver Island, in August of 2019. It is believed that the hornets originated from a foreign ship anchored at one of the port’s two deep-sea terminals. In 2020, both Washington and Canada have had new confirmed sightings of the Asian giant hornet, see the Asian Giant Hornet Detections Dashboard link. All sighting in Washington have been in Whatcom County. Genetic sequencing results suggests that the Nanaimo, BC, and Blaine, WA wasps were from separate mated queens.

The name “murder hornet” comes from their behavior when attacking honeybee hives. In fall, prior to breeding and the queens’ winter hibernation, worker hornets will annihilate a honeybee hive by decapitating the bees with their powerful jaws. A few hornets can kill 30,000 honeybees within hours. They take the defenseless bee larva back to the hive to feed their own.

In Japan, as many as 50 people die each year from the sting of Asian giant hornets. In comparison, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that about 62 people die every year from bee and wasp stings in the U.S. The wasp can sting multiple times without losing its stinger. The people most at risk of a deadly reaction to the sting are people who are severely allergic to insect venom and are in danger of developing anaphylactic shock, which can cause cardiac arrest or close airways through tissue swelling. The wasp is generally not aggressive and does not sting unless provoked.

The WSDA is enlisting the help of the public to trap and report Asian giant hornets in Washington. July through October are the best time to trap the workers. If you would like more information on this subject you can go to the following links:
https://wastatedeptag.blogspot.com/2020/04/AGHtrapping.html
and https://www.facebook.com/groups/hornets/permalink/1488237044858417

Washington State Department of Agriculture Invasive Hornets Websites:
https://agr.wa.gov/hornets
https://www.facebook.com/WAStateDeptAg

Asian Giant Hornet Detections Dashboard
Trapping for Asian Giant Hornets - 8 Things To Know

Resources