The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #50642

Jacquelyn A. Hakim, MS, MPH, Director, Monroe County Vector Control, 38 North 7th Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360, 570-420-3525, jhakim@co.monroe.pa.us, Adenike Bitto, MD, DrPH, MPH, CHES, Health, East Stroudsburg University, P.O. Box 155, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301, and Michael F. Pula, BS, Monroe County Vector Control, 38 N. 7th St., Stroudsburg, PA 18360.

The purpose of this presentation is to demonstrate the importance of maintaining public health infrastructure, and putting the public back in public health. West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance program of the Monroe County Vector Control (MCVC) is a continuation of the original 1973 health department mosquito control and arboviral surveillance program. The goal is to minimize or eliminate the risk of arthropod-borne disease to residents and visitors through a comprehensive program of mosquito surveillance and control. Effectiveness of the current WNV program is evidenced by absence of positive WNV titers in all surveyed populations - humans, birds and mosquitoes, despite positive titers across the river and in almost all surrounding states. MCVC keeps the mosquito population down by monitoring mosquito populations, identification, population counts, safe larviciding with methoprene, and adulticiding only as a last resort. These prevention strategies are augmented with a public health education component including source reduction strategies. There is collaboration between members of the community and several agencies in the public sector. Interagency collaboration is an essential component for the WNV surveillance, prevention and control, including local health department, county, state health department, DEP, PA department of agriculture, Penn DOT, U.S. Department of Interior, Delaware National Park Services, Penn State University Cooperative Extension, and East Stroudsburg University. Data will be presented on the total number of adult mosquitoes collected by species and month of capture, collection methods, location, site, latitude and longitude, primary habitat of the mosquitoes and prevalence of tire piles, and health education interventions.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the APHA participant will be able to

• Recognize the critical role played by members of the community in the prevention of West Nile virus infection (WNV) - because the main vector is "artificial container" mosquitoes
• Articulate potential breeding sites and risks of WNV for the susceptible
• Discuss the importance of collaboration and cooperation between the public and all agencies involved in surveillance, prevention and control of WNV

Keywords: West Nile Encephalitis, Surveillance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.