As the Zika virus spreads locally in the continental United States, communities across the country have started thinking about mosquito control measures. The Aedes mosquito that transmits the virus can breed in containers of standing water as small as a bottle cap, and the eggs can survive even without water for months. Still, the egg and larval stage is the best time to control the insect because the adult mosquito tends to be very resistant to traditional pesticides.
Jennifer A. Horney, PhD, MPH, CPH, associate professor in the Texas A&M School of Public Health, and Daniel W. Goldberg, PhD, assistant professor of geography in the Texas A&M College of Geosciences and of computer science and engineering in the college of engineering, have created a type of mobile health technology to fight the mosquitos at their source: standing water.
“With our new app, community members-citizen scientists so to speak-can do surveys and note the prevalence and locations of potential mosquito breeding grounds,” Horney said. “This data will then all be mapped online, and health departments can use that information to prioritize areas for mosquito control measures.”
People can record the number of different types of containers-old tires, buckets, bird baths, clogged gutters-that could harbor Zika-carrying mosquito eggs, along with the address of the property. The app then automatically adds the location to a website for local health officials to review.
The app is available to download for iOS and Android devices.
“We work with a number of people involved in community engagement, including many students, the Green Ambassadors in Houston, for example, who we’re going to train how to use the app,” Horney said. “The health departments get some free data, without having to use their own very limited staff resources, and it’s a great learning experience for the students as well.” The students will learn about sampling, data collection, data analysis and more.
“Effectively combating the spread of Zika will require contributions from many stakeholder groups,” Goldberg said. “With the release of this app, members of the community will be empowered to help monitor and control the risk of Zika in their own neighborhoods.”
Source: Texas A&M Health Science Center
Weekly Rounds: Four Years of COVID-19, AORN 2024 Conference Coverage, and More
March 18th 2024Here are 5 highlights from Infection Control Today®'s (ICT®’s) wide-ranging coverage of the infection prevention and control world. Everything from interviews with known opinion leaders to the news that infection preventionists and other health care professionals can use on their jobs.
Four Years After COVID-19: What Has the Infection Prevention Community Learned?
March 15th 2024Four years ago today, March 15, 2020, the COVID-19 lockdown began, and since then, the world has undergone significant changes. It has been a terrifying experience for everyone, especially for the infection prevention community, both within and outside of the health care sector. However, a crucial question remains unanswered: What has the infection prevention community learned from this pandemic, and where does it go from here?
Could Empathy Help Overcome Vaccine Hesitancy?
March 14th 2024Research findings reveal that correcting misinformation about vaccination can remarkably transform individuals' attitudes toward it. This highlights the crucial role of accurate information in making informed decisions about vaccination.
Empowering Safety: A Massachusetts General Hospital Team Is Pushing for Smoke-Free ORs
March 13th 2024At the AORN’s International Surgical Conference & Expo 2024, a team from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) showcased their transformative project, "Becoming Smoke-Free in the OR." This initiative underscored the critical need for smoke evacuation in surgical settings.
Hand Hygiene Practices in the Operating Room: A Collaborative Endeavor
March 13th 2024As explained on a poster at AORN 2024, perioperative nurses and infection preventionists unite in a proactive campaign to elevate hand hygiene within the operating room, resulting in improved adherence, decreased infections, and fortified patient outcomes.