Retrospective Assessment of Preparedness for Mosquito Control Post-Hurricane Florence in North Carolina.

Autor:	Fields M; Environmental Health Sciences Program, Department of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA., Balanay JAG; Environmental Health Sciences Program, Department of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA., Byrd BD; Environmental Health Sciences Program, School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Sciences, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC, USA., Kearney GD; Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA., Richards SL; Environmental Health Sciences Program, Department of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Disaster medicine and public health preparedness [Disaster Med Public Health Prep] 2023 Oct 18; Vol. 17, pp. e511. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Oct 18.
DOI:	10.1017/dmp.2023.168
Abstrakt:	Objectives: Ideally, mosquito control programs (MCPs) use surveillance to target control measures to potentially dangerous mosquito populations. In North Carolina (NC), where there is limited financial support for mosquito control, communities may suffer from mosquito-related issues post-hurricane due to lack of existing MCPs. Here, study objectives were to (1) investigate the emergency response of a subset of NC counties post-Hurricane Florence and (2) develop guidelines and policy recommendations to assist MCPs in post-hurricane mosquito control response. Methods: A survey was administered to a subset of eastern NC counties (an area previously impacted by hurricanes) with various levels of MCPs (from none to well-developed). Results: All respondents indicated that having Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) training would be helpful in developing a post-hurricane emergency response plan for mosquito control. There was concern related to a lack of knowledge of emergency control methods (eg, aerial/ground, adulticiding/larviciding) post-hurricane. MCP structure (eg, infrastructure, resources, operational plans/policies) could facilitate response activities and help ensure necessary emergency financial support from agencies such as FEMA. Conclusions: Mosquito control post-hurricane protects public health. Public health and other agencies can be networking resources for MCPs. Policy recommendations include implementation of routine FEMA assistance training workshops to improve an understanding of processes involved in assistance and reimbursement.
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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