To save lives in Africa and help American homeowners reclaim their yards, Orkin, Inc. has launched a new campaign to Fight the Bite of the mosquito and wage war on this disease-carrying pest. As part of Orkin's Fight the Bite, parent company Rollins, Inc. and its affiliates pledge to donate a minimum of $100,000 to the United Nations Foundation's Nothing But Nets campaign, a global, grassroots effort dedicated to saving lives by preventing malaria in Africa. Nothing But Nets will use these funds to purchase and distribute at least 10,000 long-lasting, insecticide-treated mosquito bed nets to the areas of greatest need in Africa.

The Fight the Bite campaign, running April 1 - Aug. 31, 2008, will raise donations through a company employee net drive, customer net drive and consumer contributions made through http://www.nets.orkin.com. Every net helps prevent malaria by creating a protective barrier against mosquitoes at night (when the vast majority of transmissions occur). With a $10 online donation, anyone can purchase a net and save a life. One hundred percent of each contribution goes directly toward purchasing and distributing a net and teaching the recipient to use it properly.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Orkin's public health collaborator since 2004, malaria kills more than one million people worldwide each year, 90 percent of whom are children in Africa. These children have little or no protection from the mosquitoes that carry this deadly, but preventable, disease. Although malaria has been eliminated from the U.S., mosquitoes in our own back yards can carry West Nile and other viruses that cause encephalitis. Since 1999, about 27,000 cases of mosquito-borne West Nile virus have been reported in the U.S.

"At Orkin, we're in the business of protecting people and property from potentially harmful pests, like mosquitoes," said Orkin President and COO Glen Rollins. "Expanding our public health partnerships to include Nothing But Nets broadens Orkin's impact by helping save children in Africa from a preventable yet deadly disease."

In addition to individual contributions, Orkin will donate one mosquito net to Nothing But Nets for every mosquito service purchased this season. Orkin's unique mosquito service includes a detailed inspection of potential breeding sites and treatment of standing water, as well as shrubbery and other areas where mosquitoes tend to land and rest. To learn more about preventing mosquito populations, visit http://www.nets.orkin.com.

Orkin's Fight the Bite campaign kickoff on April 1 coincides with efforts from the UN Foundation.

"Throughout the month of April, the UN Foundation's Nothing But Nets campaign is teaming up with millions of Americans to help cover the continent of Africa with life-saving nets," said Elizabeth McKee Gore, executive director of Nothing But Nets. "With our shared commitment of keeping people safe from disease-carrying mosquitoes, Orkin is a natural partner for the Nothing But Nets campaign."

Nothing But Nets will recognize Orkin's commitment to fighting malaria in New York during World Malaria Day events (April 23-25).

"We say internally that Orkin employees are a family, and they indeed come together like none I have ever seen to support others in need. I am extremely proud of how these caring and generous souls have embraced the Fight the Bite initiative," said Rollins.

About Orkin, Inc.

Founded in 1901, Atlanta-based Orkin, Inc. is an industry leader in essential pest control services and protection against termite damage, rodents and insects in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Asia. With more than 400 locations, Orkin's almost 8,000 employees serve approximately 1.7 million customers. The company serves homeowners and numerous industries including food and beverage processing, foodservice, hospitality, healthcare, retail, warehousing, property/facilities management, schools and institutions. Learn more about Orkin on our website at http://www.orkin.com. Orkin is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rollins, Inc. (NYSE: ROL).

About Nothing But Nets

Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. Inspired by sports columnist Rick Reilly, tens of thousands of people have joined the Campaign that was created by the United Nations Foundation in 2006. Founding campaign partners include the National Basketball Association's NBA Cares, The People of the United Methodist Church, and Sports Illustrated. It only costs $10 to provide a long-lasting insecticide-treated bed net that can prevent this deadly disease. Visit http://www.NothingButNets.net to send a net and save a life.

About the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is an organization that protects people's health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing creditable information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national, and international organizations. As a federal agency, CDC does not promote or endorse specific products or entities.

http://www.cdc.gov