A pest goes viral, putting WSDA in the spotlight

Kathy Davis
Communications

As if a global pandemic weren’t enough! This is the story about how the emergence of a new insect pest in Washington State became a viral, worldwide phenomenon. It sounds like a low-budget horror movie. But for the WSDA Pest Program, it’s all in a day’s work. 

Last December, the program received and verified sightings of two Asian giant hornets near Blaine. It was the first time this largest-in-the-world hornet species had been found in the United States. It had been discovered in neighboring British Columbia in the fall. 

While they don’t generally attack people, Asian giant hornets do destroy honeybee hives. They will attack and decapitate bees, destroying a hive in a matter of hours. If it became established in Washington, it could decimate the pollinators that agriculture relies on. 

So, the WSDA Pest Program began alerting the public, especially beekeepers, to be on the lookout for this ultra-large hornet, and they made plans to set traps in the Blaine area to monitor the pest. 

The New York Times

While WSDA entomologists were doing what entomologists do, the program’s public engagement specialist, Karla Salp, was responding to media inquiries, one of which came from a New York Times reporter. 

New York Times reporter, Mike Baker,
holds an Asian giant hornet specimen.

The reporter, Mike Baker, joined WSDA staff as they set traps in the field on May 27. He interviewed others as well, including a Japanese researcher who referred to the Asian giant hornet as the “murder hornet” – a sensational moniker, which was used in the headline. 

Publication of the NYT story on May 2 set off a feeding frenzy by news media across the country and even from international reporters. Entomologists Chris Looney and Sven Spichiger were each interviewed dozens of times. Other Pest Program staff fielded hundreds of emails, phone calls, and online reports. 

Chris, who was prominently featured in the NYT article, came back to an inbox overflowing with hundreds of emails from strangers about the story. While many offered professional advice and help, several others wanted to know the brand of the jacket he wore in the photo. 

We’re going viral

Social media blew up as well. The number of people viewing WSDA Facebook pages hit an all-time high. Hornet memes became a thing on the internet. People around the country were asking, “What’s the deal with this murder hornet?” 

This WSDA issue even earned two mentions on the iconic TV comedy show Saturday Night Live – sure sign of a trending cultural phenomenon. 

“The publicity has been fantastic for raising awareness about Asian giant hornets,” Karla noted. “But the ‘murder hornet’ name has generated a disproportionate amount of fear compared to the threat they pose.” 

WSDA entomologist Chris Looney
displays the Asian giant hornet. 

Along with raising alarm, the spotlight brought hundreds of reports of Asian giant hornet sightings – most of which turned out to be of other insects such as bumblebees, yellow jackets and elm sawflies. 

Despite hundreds of reports in early May, it wasn’t until last week that a new Asian giant hornet was confirmed in Washington. The new sighting was near Custer – just a few miles south of the 2019 sightings and about a mile from a suspicious bee kill in the Custer area last year. 

The new catch brings the total number of Asian giant hornets confirmed in Washington to three. “We’re hopeful this means that they continue to be in very low numbers in the Pacific Northwest,” Karla said. 

To learn more or to report an Asian giant hornet sighting, visit agr.wa.gov/hornets. 

In summary: After the New York Times reported on the WSDA Pest Program’s confirmation of Asian giant hornets in northwest Washington, the news media, internet and popular culture exploded with fascination over the “murder hornet.” Here is the back story. 

Organic inspector uses garden to support community need

Kathy Davis
Communications

Ali Dermond, right, conducts an organic inspection for Zillah tree-fruit
producer Paul Stonemetz. 

One activity that is thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic is home gardening. Warm weather, more time at home, and the desire for fresh food is inspiring both veteran and novice gardeners to dig in the dirt. 

Ali Dermond, a WSDA Organic Program inspector lead in Ellensburg, is an avid gardener who is devoting her skills to helping feed her community. 

Ali has been planting more this year to donate to the FISH Community Food Bank in Ellensburg. She also helped start a Facebook group called FISH Victory Gardens to encourage and support other area gardeners to grow and donate to feed people in need. 

“A few weeks ago, I was getting ready to plant peas. I usually don’t plant a lot of peas, but I was thinking about the space I have and wondering if I could make room to grow more for the food bank,” Ali explained.

After contacting the food bank to confirm they were still accepting homegrown produce, she proceeded to rearrange and plan to make the most of her garden space this year. 

Hunger relief need spiking

The global pandemic is straining the hunger relief system, as more people find themselves out of work and struggling to make ends meet. On April 30, WSDA Director Derek Sandison said in a news conference that food bank demand in Washington has doubled, with more than 2 million residents seeking help. 

While organizations are seeking financial assistance to support a food supply line, home gardeners across the state are also stepping up to help. 

“A number of people on the Facebook group are sharing plant starts and whatnot to fill up each other’s gardens,” Ali said. “It’s pretty neat to see gardeners finding more planting space and sharing extras to help each other out.”

Ali takes a selfie with her garden.

Personal and professional overlap

Ali has worked in the Organic Program for seven years. In 2013, she also moved to a larger property and transitioned from patio containers to a large garden space. 

She said her work and personal life often overlap because both are about growing food that’s good for the environment and for consumers. 

“Hearing from other programs at WSDA helps me see the need our communities will have to make sure everyone has food on the table,” she noted. 

For more information about how COVID-19 is affecting hunger relief organizations, visit WSDA’s Food Assistance or the state coronavirus response webpage. 

In summary: One activity that is thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic is home gardening. Ali Dermond, a WSDA Organic Program inspector lead in Ellensburg, is an avid gardener who is devoting her skills to helping feed her community during this time of great need.

Short budget session yields some impacts to WSDA

Kathy Davis
Communications

The Washington State Legislature finished their 60-day session on March 12 with less fanfare than usual. This year the Legislature’s work was overshadowed by the COVID-19 outbreak as it emerged during March.

During a short session year, lawmakers generally limit the number of policy bills they consider, and they approve a supplemental budget that adjusts the state’s two-year operating budget to address new developments and needs. 

WSDA received $3.2 million in additional funding for agency activities, bringing our total agency 2019-2021 biennial operating budget to $220.6 million. Here is a list of funds added by the supplemental budget bill, in descending order of dollar amounts.

Gypsy moth eradication - $518,000 federal and $176,000 state funds to treat areas of the state at where this destructive, invasive pest have been found. 

Burrowing shrimp grants - $650,000 for research to assist with the development of an integrated pest management plan to address burrowing shrimp in Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor, and facilitate continued shellfish cultivation. 

Food pantry storage - $500,000 to increase cold storage capacity for food pantries, food banks and regional emergency food system partners to manage increasing volumes of fresh and frozen foods, including from Washington producers.  

Wolf/livestock management grants - $320,000 for Northeast Washington Wolf Collaborative for increased range-riding activities in the Kettle Mountains in Ferry County north of U.S Highway 20. 

Soil health - $200,000 to continue the Washington Soil Health Initiative -- in partnership with Washington State University, and the State Conservation Commission, assess soil health baselines, and develop, evaluate and incentivize practices that improve soil health conditions across Washington’s diverse agricultural systems. 

Sustainable farms and fields - $126,000 to work with the State Conservation Commission in awarding grants that support carbon farming as a method to move excess greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and store them in soil and vegetation. 

Asian giant hornet eradication - $101,000 (state, plus federal funds that become available) to address the newly discovered insect pest that attacks and destroys honeybee hives. The world’s largest species of hornet were found near Blaine and Bellingham last year, the first-ever sightings in the United States. 

Farm to Food Pantry - $100,000 to expand this pilot assistance program that builds relationships between farmers and local hunger relief organizations to bring more locally grown food into food banks and food pantries for hungry people in need. 

Aerial herbicide - $87,000 to work with the departments of Health, Ecology, Labor & Industries, and Natural Resources, as well as other stakeholders, to evaluate pesticide investigation rules and processes. 

Ag negotiations - $81,000 (plus cost-recovery options) to facilitate negotiations between agricultural product handlers and accredited associations of pear producers regarding the sale, compensation, or production of pears, in addition to current work related to sweet corn and potatoes. 

Food forum - $58,000 to help WSDA continue participating fully in the food policy forum.

Because of the fiscal threat posed by the COVID-19 response, before signing the supplemental budget bill into law, Gov. Inslee vetoed sections that trimmed $235 million in state spending. 

Among the vetoes affecting WSDA were a review of alternatives for the pesticide chlorpyrifos, negotiating an agreement with USDA to conduct meat and poultry inspections, and a project related to compost use. 

In summary: The Washington State Legislature finished their 60-day session on March 12 with less fanfare than usual. During this short session, lawmakers approved a supplemental budget that provided WSDA with $3.2 million in additional funding for agency activities.

Providing access to those with limited English proficiency

Hector Castro and Hannah Flournoy
Communications and Administrative Regulations 

Government agencies, including WSDA, are obligated to ensure that people who have limited proficiency with the English language (Limited English Proficient or LEP) have meaningful access to information, programs, and services the agency provides. 

Providing LEP access is not only good customer service, it is also required by federal civil-rights laws. As a recipient of federal funds, WSDA must take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access to LEP people. 

What does LEP mean? It means a person has a limited ability to speak, read, write or understand English. They may be able to speak English and understand it in some informal settings, but are limited in areas such as reading and writing, or understanding legal or technical language. It can also mean that a person self-identifies as LEP and asks for interpretation or translation assistance. 

Plan and policy

An agency workgroup with representatives from the Communications Office, Human Resources and Administrative Regulations has been collaborating on efforts to improve WSDA’s communication with Limited English Proficient (LEP) people. The group is working to develop an LEP plan and policy. 

Some of the key elements of the LEP plan include:

• Agency goals for improved LEP communication, both written and verbal.
• Guidance for programs to identify vital documents.
• Expectations for programs to translate vital documents. 
• Commitment to providing interpretation service when needed.
• Use of bilingual staff.

The LEP policy has not yet been adopted. The current draft would direct staff to follow the LEP plan as generally described above. It would authorize program managers to set the amount of language services provided, and it commits that WSDA will not charge customers or the public for language services. The draft policy would also create an LEP committee to monitor, assess and adjust the agency’s language activities. 

Programs will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft policy and plan before adoption. The schedule to complete the plan and policy was originally set for this summer, but the COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted some of this work.

Over-the-phone language service

WSDA took a big step in recent weeks by choosing a new vendor to provide over-the-phone language interpretation services. Driven by a law change, the state established master contracts with new vendors and WSDA has identified Lionbridge as our primary service provider for phone-based language interpretation. 

As we transition to working with Lionbridge, training materials on how to use these services will be made available, including online training and webinars. Also, for your convenience, the vendor will provide wallet cards with the call-in number for service, and a space to add your program’s fund code. 

Lionbridge offers 24/7 service by qualified, certified interpreters. No more hunting around for a bilingual colleague if you find yourself speaking with an LEP customer. 

While Spanish will likely be the primary language we need, they offer access to hundreds of languages that can be interpreted. Expect to see more detailed information regarding this service in the coming weeks. 

In summary: Providing access to agency information and services in languages other than English is good customer services. It is also required by federal law. WSDA is taking steps to improve our communications with all customers and the public.

Governor outlines path to safe return to public life

On April 21, Gov. Jay Inslee announced a framework for a gradual, data-driven, health-focused approach to safely returning to public life and work. 

His plan focuses on three efforts: supporting our medical system, economic recovery, and supporting people who need food, housing and mental health support.

WSDA will follow guidance from the Governor’s Office and public health experts as we determine how and when to start modifying protective measures.

The governor emphasized the top priority is still to bring down numbers of COVID-19 infections and deaths. He did not lift his Stay Home, Stay Healthy order. But he did indicate that, as long as COVID-19 cases remain steady or decline, some elective surgeries can resume if health professionals have adequate PPE, and that certain restrictions on outdoor recreation and some construction will be lifted. All restrictions remain in place for now. 

The governor said that several measures such as physical distancing, teleworking and distance learning are likely to continue for some time.

Until a vaccine is available, the governor and health officials are focused on increased testing for everyone with symptoms, developing the state’s ability to identify and notify contacts and providing PPE for everyone who needs it.

The governor outlined how he plans to develop guidelines for employers on how to safely start their business operations in a way that is safe for workers, customers and the general public.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I know if I can resume activities such as visiting family members or planning a vacation?

The governor did not announce any timelines or dates for modifying his stay-home order, so all restrictions are still in place. He said health officials are monitoring data to determine when they can start modifying certain restrictions and anticipates some changes may begin in the next several days including allowing for some elective surgeries, residential construction, and outdoor recreation. He did not provide details.

Everyone says we’re doing well on stopping the spread. Why aren’t we able to start reopening?

While the Stay Home, Stay Healthy measures have helped contain the outbreak, the governor said health officials are still concerned that modifying restrictions too soon could result in increased infection rates. He said that restrictions related to elective surgeries, outdoor recreation and residential construction may soon be modified if health data shows it’s safe to do so, and they’ll continue to look at the data to determine when and how to modify other restrictions.

Is Gov. Inslee planning to extend his Stay Home, Stay Healthy order beyond May 4?

He did not announce whether he will extend his order, but said it’s likely that many measures will remain in place for some time.

What is “contact tracing”?

State health officials are setting up a system that allows them to test anyone with symptoms, find a safe place for those people to recover or be treated without risk of infecting others, and also find out who else that person may have had close contact with so they can make sure those people are also tested and get treatment. 

In summary: On April 21, Gov. Jay Inslee announced a framework for a gradual, data-driven, health-focused approach to safely returning to public life and work. He has not lifted the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order. The governor emphasized the top priority is still to bring down numbers of COVID-19 infections and deaths.

Staying safe and healthy online during coronavirus outbreak

Courtesy of WaTech Office of Cybersecurity 

Malicious actors are using the outbreak as an opportunity to launch online attacks. 

As our work and home life changes in response to the coronavirus outbreak, many of us are spending more time online than usual. Threat actors are taking note and are seeking to benefit from this crisis. 

Now is a good opportunity to refresh yourself about basic cybersecurity steps you can take to stay safe online. 

The state Office of Cybersecurity provides resources and best practices for staying safe online. During this outbreak, be especially mindful of the following common online scams. 

Charity scams

These types of scams target people who want to help by impersonating charities and other organizations in order to get personal information. Be wary of urgent messages requiring immediate action. Validate the email by calling the organization. Look up the phone number yourself. Do not call phone numbers provided in emails. 

Domain spoofing of websites

In this type of attack, bad actors will create a website that spoofs a trusted organization. Once you navigate to this spoofed page, you may be exposed to malware, credential theft, or fraud. 

To protect yourself, only go to trusted, known websites. Be wary of any website that immediately asks for your information or credentials. The state’s official page for coronavirus related information is coronavirus.wa.gov, and other trusted sites are linked to from there. 

Disinformation

It is more important than ever during this time to ensure the information we rely on is accurate. To protect yourself, make sure the information you access comes from a primary and reputable source. Share information online with caution. Remember, relevant information shared by the state will be posted to coronavirus.wa.gov. 

Phishing emails

Threat actors are preying on the fear and uncertainty created by the pandemic to lure people into clicking on malicious links or download malware. Common tricks include claims for cures, face masks or other medical supplies, or vaccines. To protect yourself from becoming a victim, do not click on links or attachments in unsolicited emails. 

This list is not exhaustive but serves as a reminder of core principles for navigating online safely. As we focus on staying safe and healthy during this time, be mindful of these tips to stay safe and healthy online as well.

Guidance for WSDA employees

Agency employees who believe they’ve been subject to any of these scams or are unsure of an email you’ve received should submit a ticket to the IT Service Desk. 

Remember you can use the Phish Alert Button that appears in the Outlook Home ribbon to delete email messages believed to be malicious. The email will be automatically forwarded to WSDA IT for analysis. 

Finally, never forward anything that appears suspicious.

In summary: Malicious actors are using the coronavirus outbreak as an opportunity to launch online attacks. Now is a good time to learn more about basic cybersecurity steps you can take to stay safe online. The state Office of Cybersecurity offers guidance.

How I slimmed down and improved my health

Steve Fuller
Assistant Director, Food Safety & Consumer Protection Division

(Editor’s note: Insider was preparing to publish Steve’s inspiring testimonial before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. While not related to the current situation, it may serve as a reminder that commitment to our good health is always important – and maybe even more so now.)

About a year ago, my doctor had me take some blood tests to check my lipids, sugar levels, etc. The results were not good. They showed I was on the road to type 2 diabetes. 

I had known for a long time that my junk-food habit and lack of exercise were a problem. But seeing my lab results and thinking about what it meant for my family gave me the motivation I needed to finally do something about it.

I vaguely remembered hearing about the Omada program from the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB). This diabetes prevention program gives you the tools and support you need to make lifestyle changes. 

I wasn’t sure what Omada was exactly, but I filled out the easy eligibility form online, figuring I could always back out if it got weird or too expensive.

Long story short, it turned out to be a great program that really has improved my health. 

Some of the highlights for me:

• It was free to participate, entirely paid for by state health insurance.
• I got a swanky electronic scale in the mail that I’m still using every day.
• The scale automatically syncs to the Omada app, and I can easily track my progress over time.
• I was connected to a real live personal coach with whom I exchanged messages and got advice.
• There’s a good food tracker in the app.
• The weekly nutritional lessons were short and high quality. I thought I already knew everything I needed to about nutrition, but I learned a lot.

I got results, and I wanted to share them. 

I’ve lost about 50 pounds on the program and kept it off so far. My blood tests massively improved. 

Steve before, left, and after, right. 

When people ask what I did, I say something simple like “eat less, move more.” This is true in one sense, but there was a lot structure, accountability, and support along the way.

I don’t sell stuff to my friends. That said, this program is promoted and sanctioned as an employee health benefit. It meant a lot to me and I want to let others know.

As a caveat, you would have to decide if the current stay-at-home period is the right time for you to start participating in the Omada program. 

It is all provided online or over-the-phone, so it could be done while adhering to physical distancing orders. 

At the same time, anxiety, lack of exercise options, and easy access to food may present challenges. 

From one person trying to get healthier - if you have ANY interest, I’d encourage you to check it out and see if you’re eligible.

In summary: Shaken by alarming medical results, Steve Fuller took advantage of a diabetes prevention program offered free of charge under our state health care coverage. His results have been inspiring and he agreed to share his story on the Insider.