Regional survey of mosquito control knowledge and usage in North Carolina Grant uri icon

abstract

  • Mosquitoes are a nuisance and can transmit pathogens to humans and other animals via blood feeding. Organized mosquito control programs conduct surveillance, source reduction, treatment of immature mosquito oviposition sites, and adulticiding to protect public health. Control programs are most successful with sustained surveillance-based targeted mosquito control, rather than costly reactive responses to outbreaks or non-surveillance based control that may promote insecticide resistance. However, there has been a decline in county and municipal mosquito control programs, and homeowners are increasingly contracting with private mosquito control companies who apply barrier (or other) insecticide treatments to address mosquito-related issues. The extent to which these services are being used, the potential for exposure around the home, and the access different people have to these services are not well known. Consequently, private mosquito control is a potential environmental health and justice issue in many regions of North Carolina where municipal/county programs are underfunded or nonexistent. We propose to conduct a regional (eastern, central, western) assessment of mosquito risk (reported human and animal cases of mosquito-borne disease) and public perception/knowledge of mosquito control services (public and private) in a variety of communities of different socioeconomic statuses (low, middle, high) and types (urban, suburban, rural) in North Carolina. Findings from this study are expected to guide future mosquito management strategies.

date/time interval

  • September 2015 - October 2017