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Abstract #159424

John R. Holguin, BS¹, Laura Krueger, MPH², Nelson Kerr, MPA¹, Erin Cox, MPH¹, Lamar Rush, BA¹, Nettie DeAugustine, BS¹, and Ronald R. Arias, MPA³. (1) Department of Health and Human Services, City of Long Beach, 2525 Grand Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815, (562) 570-4302, John_Holguin@longbeach.gov, (2) California Department of Health Services, Vector-Borne Disease Section, 2151 E. Convention Center Way, Suite 218B, Ontario, CA 91764-5429, (3) Director, City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, 2525 Grand Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815

A local public health jurisdiction in a metropolitan area reported six cases of murine typhus (endemic typhus), in 2006, a flea-borne illness which has not been detected in the City for over 100 years. Local epidemiological and vector control surveillance and response will be discussed, as well as health care provider, veterinary and community education and risk communication methods. This re-emerging disease which was identified as a new Rickettsial species is typically caused by the bite of infected fleas carried by cats, opossums, and rats. This presentation will also discuss human and animal surveillance methods to monitor the spread of murine typhus, vector control measures to reduce flea populations and a community wide health education campaign to reduce the risk of a wide spread outbreak. Interagency coordination with the Centers for Disease Control Rickettsial Disease Laboratory and the use of geographic information systems for outbreak management and control will also be included in the discussion.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Recognize the symptoms of typhus fever.
• 2. Describe the transmission cycle for murine typhus.
• 3. Develop a plan for risk communication and community health education.
• 4. Describe the role of GIS in murine typhus surveillance and targeting interventions.

Keywords: Epidemiology, Outbreaks

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.