Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #115940

Susan G. King, MS, RS and Donald Irwin, BS. Division of Environmental Health, Nassau County Department of Health, 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY 11501, 516-571-3692, donald.irwin@hhsnassaucountyny.us

On August 6, 2004 a raccoon that had been involved in a fight with a family pet was the first in over fifty years to test positive for the rabies virus in Nassau County. It set in motion a public health response that involved dozens of public health professionals, police emergency services, state and federal wildlife and rabies experts.

To date, nine raccoons have tested positive for rabies and a trapping and vaccination program has been completed in an area of approximately 66 sq. miles. Additionally, 407 raccoons have been trapped and tested for titer to determine the effectiveness of vaccination.

GIS mapping and analysis was utilized and proved to be extremely valuable for assessing the response in near real time. Positive specimens were plotted and the surveillance and containment plans focused on expanding radii around successive positive specimens. Advance field teams surveyed and canvassed the target areas to secure trapping permissions from private residences. Polygons representing the baiting areas were constructed to determine the area covered, potential baiting concentrations, political jurisdictions and the effected human population. Maps used by response planners and provided to field teams included the following data: Points of positive specimens, baiting polygons, coastline boundaries, elevation contours, roadways, parking, railroads, parcels delineated by trapping permissions, police jurisdictions, building footprints, parks, golf courses, storm-water recharge basins and inland waters. Field teams used GIS maps containing data that was updated daily to determine appropriate areas to trap raccoons and for placing baits containing rabies vaccine.

Learning Objectives:

• The effectiveness of utilizing geographic information system mapping to administer a rapid public health response.

Keywords: Rabies, Geographic Information Systems

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.