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Cuyahoga County Board of Health's 2006 Strategy
Strategic Approach
The Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH) vector control and encephalitis surveillance program has been in existence for over 25 years to protect the public from vector borne disease. Public education and Integrated Pest Management are the two main components of the program to reduce disease activity in vectors and the public. Empowering the general public through education to take precautions from potential vectors and for the CCBH to continually refine it's program will promote a healthier community.
Progress on 2005 Activity 1
Initiate an annual larval surveillance project in an area (900 acres) that routinely has standing water. The CCBH has treated the area consecutively for four years. The surveillance and evaluation following the most recent treatment has revealed that the application may not have to be done annually but possibly every 2,3, or 4 years.
Bradley Woods Aerial Larviciding Application - the survey to determine larval activity year to year in defined woodland pools to determine spring larviciding thresholds for spring aerial larviciding. For 2006, the CCBH evaluated the woodland pools for mosquito larvae and monitored weather forecasts. The decision was made to cancel the application of 10,000 pounds of larvicide because of the lack of water and mosquito larvae.
Progress on 2005 Activity 2
Test equipment for proper droplet size adulticiding application and continue to provide professional training for pest control applicators. We will also explore the potential of using plume modeling and weather patterns as a part of our evaluation process.
ULV equipment testing. Equipment was calibrated..
Progress on 2005 Activity 3
A public educational video will be generated and placed on local cable access to discuss rodent prevention and control for home owners.
Rodent Public education - for cable access. The presentation was on cable access for one city and was then revised and is in the process of duplication in order for the presentation to be seen by more viewers.
Progress on 2005 Activity 4
Redefining the CCBH mosquito adulticide application decision matrix inclusive of multiple threshold beyond the national protocols to bring in the best available data approriate to our local conditions and concerns. In addition, we will work on developing alternative notification networks or protocols and educational responses with our communities to give constituents the best available information.
Defining the CCBH adulticide decision matrix by the inclusion of a mosquito infection rate (I/R) threshold. The decision matrix was instituted and a reduction in adulticide events was achieved. The protection of public health was not compromised. Continually looking at alternative strategies and best practices research for pesticide use reduction.
Progress on 2005 Activity 5
Educational seminar for Mayors and City Council members regarding the CCBH mosquito surveillance and control program that will include the discussion on the refined decision matrix for adulticiding and the values associated with pesticide usage for public health measures.
Educational seminar for mayors and council members. A meeting was held to educate the participants about west nile virus. Continued the education of the public through community newsletters, 330 schools, 500,000 water bill inserts, cable access, community meetings and the media.
Progress on 2005 Activity 6
Distribute an IPM survey to schools, implementing a pilot project with a few schools to educate the staff. Research and submit a grant for school IPM training and inspections..
IPM in schools survey followed by a grant application to preform IPM education for school district employees. A grant application was not applied as the grants were not available for local health department independently.
Activities for the Coming Year
Activity 1
Continual ULV equipment calibration.
How does this activity reduce pesticide risk?
Equipment will apply the pesticide at the required droplet size.
How will you measure the risk reduction gained from this activity?
Receive printout from calibration machine
Activity 2
Rodent public education on cable access
How does this activity reduce pesticide risk?
Will educate people to use pesticides properly.
How will you measure the risk reduction gained from this activity?
n/a
Activity 3
Rodent control pilot project to determine if a concentrated sewer bait block initiative will reduce the amount of complaints in the summer time in a defined area accompanied by GIS spatial mapping and analysis of complaints and rodenticide utilization.
How does this activity reduce pesticide risk?
May reduce pesticide usage overall. Bait placed in sewers is not accessible to kids, pets.
How will you measure the risk reduction gained from this activity?
Determine if we see a reduction in complaints from year to year in a defined area and a reduction in pesticide usage.
Activity 4
Integrate IPM into routine shcool and childcare inspection and educatoin assessments
How does this activity reduce pesticide risk?
Less exposure of students too pesticides
How will you measure the risk reduction gained from this activity?
Redution in usage of pesticides
Activity 5
Educate people to use pesticides properly
How does this activity reduce pesticide risk?
Explore working with poison control centers on marketing a household pesticide safety initiative.
How will you measure the risk reduction gained from this activity?
Reduce the number of poisonings from household pesticide products that occur from use or accidental ingestion.