BACKGROUND: The need to conduct mosquito surveillance increases with the possibility for local transmission of mosquito-borne diseases including Zika virus. Most jurisdictions in Virginia do not fund mosquito surveillance and control programs; these activities are often considered the responsibility of environmental health (EH) departments in local health districts. Unfortunately, EH departments also face budget restrictions that limit their capacity to recognize and react to emerging threats. By training and equipping EH personnel to be responsible for targeted mosquito surveillance at high-risk transmission sites, the Virginia Department of Health is able to increase capacity for detection of local disease transmission without hiring additional personnel.
METHODS: EH staff members from seven districts in Virginia are being provided with training, supplies, and stipends to conduct targeted mosquito surveillance for mosquito-borne diseases. Training consists of two full days of seminars and practice exercises covering surveillance methods, trap usage, mosquito identification, and specimen submission. Supplies include Biogents-sentinel (BG) traps and accessories, a resource manual, and materials/supplies to store and submit mosquitoes for arboviral testing. Each district represented at the training receives a $5,000.00 stipend to cover staff time required to complete surveillance during Virginia’s mosquito season, May through October. Participants will complete a pre and post-training survey on their knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to mosquito surveillance.
RESULTS: Results are forthcoming, however as their inclusion in the program is voluntary we expect participants to complete the program and for it to increase mosquito surveillance capacity. EH personnel regularly visit public and private spaces to conduct investigations in response to complaints. Such investigations may even be done for vector-related concerns therefore mosquito surveillance will be easily integrated into their workflow. Participants are being supported with training, supplies, and financing by the Virginia Department of Health.
CONCLUSIONS: Travelers returning to Virginia from areas with ongoing transmission of Zika virus and other mosquito-borne diseases such as chikungunya virus and dengue virus pose a risk to the state’s population. Local disease transmission may be possible through passing travelers' arboviral infection on to the ubiquitous Aedes albopictus vector or even the uncommon Aedes aegypti vector. The short and medium-term impact of this program will be measured through changes in participants’ self-reported knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding mosquito surveillance. The main long-term outcome is an increase in Virginia’s ability to identify local transmission of mosquito-borne diseases and educate the population about vector control and disease prevention.