Volume 30, Number 11—November 2024
Perspective
Conceptual Framework for Community-Based Prevention of Brown Dog Tick–Associated Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Maureen K. Brophy
, Erica Weis, Naomi A. Drexler, Christopher D. Paddock, William L. Nicholson, Gilbert J. Kersh, and Johanna S. Salzer
, Erica Weis, Naomi A. Drexler, Christopher D. Paddock, William L. Nicholson, Gilbert J. Kersh, and Johanna S. Salzer
Table
Conceptual framework for community-based prevention of RMSF listing proposed indicators and action items for communities at medium and high risk for endemic transmission*
| Core function | Recommended risk level indicators | Action | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare system coordination and public health reporting |
Presence or absence of provider education around ticks and tickborne diseases, provider understanding of diagnosing and treating tickborne diseases, diagnostic testing capacity, distance to healthcare, availability of medical transport |
Implement standardized RMSF patient treatment protocol in all affected areas to include follow up contact to ensure treatment continues if the patient leaves endemic area health facilities | $ |
| Use RMSF patient treatment algorithm in patients experiencing with fever or a history of contact with ticks | $$ | ||
| Disseminate education on RMSF for support staff and healthcare providers | $ | ||
| Require continuing medical education for healthcare providers, including MDs in primary care, emergency care, internal care, family practice, and pediatrics, physician assistants, and nursing staff providing care; consider embedding RMSF training course into the onboarding process for new hires | $$ | ||
| Establish a clinical task force to address areas of varying needs and priorities |
$ |
||
| Community education and outreach |
Percent of population below local poverty level, educational attainment in community; presence or absence of health education around ticks and tickborne diseases; knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about personal and home tick prevention; percent of population with internet access |
Disseminate education on RMSF for support staff and community health workers | $$ |
| Consider embedding RMSF training course into the onboarding process for new hires in public interfacing agencies | $ | ||
| Create an RMSF communication plan so all communities get consistent messaging |
$ |
||
| Animal control and veterinary programs |
Wellness: presence or absence of veterinary services, availability of effective ectoparasite treatments for dogs in community, number of spayed or neutered animals, cost of effective ectoparasite treatments for dogs in community; free-roaming population status: density of free-roaming dogs, presence or absence of ordinance forbidding free roaming dogs, fencing and tethering behaviors across community; access to resources: presence or absence of animal control department, presence or absence of animal shelter space, number of low- or no-cost spay and neuter clinics |
Establish animal control programs | $$$ |
| Establish veterinary services |
$$$ |
||
| Environmental tick surveillance and control |
Harborage: presence or absence of municipal and community solid waste removal, landfill cost and availability; pesticide use: presence or absence of vector control program, presence or absence of certified pesticide applicators; community knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices about tickborne diseases: presence or absence of community education around ticks and tickborne diseases |
Develop programs to provide regular tick control services for each home in affected areas | $$$ |
| Implement environmental tick surveillance to provide measurement and direction for prevention efforts |
$$$ |
||
| Finance and budget | Presence or absence of dedicated annual jurisdictional funding to all partners for RMSF prevention, presence or absence of personnel capable of writing and managing grants | Engage leadership to advocate for sustainable funding for all RMSF prevention partners | $ |
| Train personnel across all RMSF prevention partnering agencies in grant writing and management | $$ |
*Relative cost scale: $, lowest cost activities; $$, median cost activities; $$$, highest cost activities. RMSF, Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Page created: October 08, 2024
Page updated: October 22, 2024
Page reviewed: October 22, 2024
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