Very Few PMPs Receive Customer Questions About Dengue Fever

CLEVELAND – Despite a recent U.S. CDC/Health Alert Network (HAN) health advisory about the U.S. being at increased risk for dengue virus infections, rarely do pest management professionals get asked customer questions about dengue fever. Only 21 percent of respondents to a recent PCT poll said they have ever had a customer ask about dengue fever.

“We have not, and rarely do we get calls asking about specific diseases,” said Cory Goeltzenleuchter, area technical director, Northwest Exterminating, Gainesville, Fla. “The last time I remember getting questions was when there were Zika concerns.”  The first cases of locally transmitted Zika virus in the continental U.S. were confirmed in Florida in July 2016, according to CDC.

Similarly, Michael Moorhouse, brand president of Mosquito Shield, said the he is not aware of his company's technicians ever having been specifically asked about dengue or other commonly known diseases such as EEE and West Nile virus. "Those are the two most recognized and reported on. We never market to these threats or prey on consumers, allowing the media to push that side of the messaging," Moorhouse said.

Mosquito Squad entomologist Emma Grace Crumbly also said they have not been hearing in-person concerns from customers about dengue, "but our social media pages will get DMs and comments asking about emerging mosquito-borne diseases, which is engagement typically in response to infographics or educational videos the company posts on the topic.  She added, "Our business advisors and franchise owners expect that more news coverage of dengue spreading in the U.S. will lead to more customers asking about it. To provide the best responses possible, technicians, managers, and franchise owners receive regular training on a number of mosquito-borne illnesses, including Zika, chikungunya, encephalitis, elephantiasis, malaria, yellow fever, and dengue."

Goeltzenleuchter said McCall Service (now part of Rollins brand Northwest Exterminating) included Zika virus education as part of its new hire training and ongoing training for employees. In terms of answering customer inquiries about mosquito-borne diseases, CSRs and technicians were trained to “communicate that mosquito management is obviously an important part of it. Our services reduce mosquito populations, but do not eliminate them.”

Crumbley said Mosquito Squad "trains technicians to listen to customer concerns, educate customers on how mosquitoes spread diseases, identify mosquito breeding sites around their properties, and communicate how our treatment services can help manage their mosquito problems."

Seventy-nine percent of respondents indicated they have received customer inquiries about dengue fever.

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