Vector-borne disease prevention relies on vector control and education. Community education can be key to vector-borne disease prevention by increasing preventative behaviors and controlling vectors outside of formal vector control districts. To increase the scope and reach of education, states can harness the power of their land-grant university Extension Service to deliver educational programs and materials regarding VBDs and their prevention across their respective states, similar to the efforts used to disseminate farming or nutritional information. Extension is a trusted source for many communities and by providing public education on the prevention and control of ticks and other arthropod vectors, Extension can educate and empower their communities to protect themselves, their families, and their animals from vector-borne diseases. In 2018, Penn State Extension created the "Vector-Borne Disease Team," taking a One Health approach to education programming. The multidisciplinary team included representatives from various fields including entomology, forestry and wildlife, animal sciences, and medical/veterinary professionals. The goal of the team was to work and learn together, establish collaborations for research and education, and to produce effective products to prevent vector-borne diseases in Pennsylvania.
Statewide assessment of tick & tick-borne disease perceptions in PA
In order to direct our efforts effectively and efficiently, the VBD Team first had to learn more about the general public in Pennsylvania, including their current knowledge of vector-borne diseases, their perceptions of vector-borne diseases, prevention tactics they use, and the types of products that would be interesting and motivating for our audiences. Learning this information will help Extension develop more targeted education campaigns and products that are likely to be effective across diverse audiences.
The role of Extension in vector-borne disease prevention
As a team member of the VBD Team, I was lead on several products for the team, including webinars, fact sheets/articles, and physical products. It was through my participation on the team that I strongly advocated to increase the presence of vector-borne disease specialists in Extension. One of the major products I developed while working with Penn State Extension and the VBD Team was a "train the trainer" workshop (aka the "Vector-Borne Disease Workshop"), where we taught Extension educators various topics related to vector biology, disease, identification, and prevention/management. The idea was that once we trained the educators, then they can disseminate this information throughout their communities. Since the establishment of the team, we have hosted various webinars, conducted applied research, and prioritized education and research topics for our stakeholders.
I was also chosen as the MUVE representative in the Early Career Professional Recognition Symposium at the 2022 Joint Annual Meeting for the Entomological Society of America in Vancouver, BC, Canada. I have included my presentation slides if you are interested in learning more about my efforts in advocating for vector-borne disease education programming in Extension Services.