Wednesday, January 15, 2025
1/15/2025
Project Abstract Summary This proposal details the establishment of a Community-Based Rodent Surveillance Collaborative (CBRSC) in response to CDC-RFA-EH20-2005. The CBRSC includes accomplished and enthusiastic partner support from national associations (National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), National Environmental Health Association (NEHA), National Pest Management Association (NPMA)); public health agencies (Louisiana Department of Health, Department of Public Health New Orleans); cities (Plano, New Orleans); extension (Texas A&M Agrilife); urban rodentology (New York City); Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (New Orleans); and academic (Universities of California, Miami and Texas). The broad and long term goal of the Collaborative is to foster interagency and cross-sector rodent data sharing and cross-sector dialogue between rodent data producers, custodians and users initially, in Dallas, Houston and New Orleans and then across partner cities in the United States so that a platform for consolidated data is created, and preparedness and responses to public health threats caused by rodents and the pathogens they transmit are improved and accelerated. To achieve this goal, the project is focused on four major outcomes: Conduct a comprehensive environmental scan in collaboration with internal (e.g., state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) health agencies) and external (e.g., business, industry, public) partners and stakeholders to compile a collection of relevant needed rodent data (e.g., rodent-borne diseases, 311 rodent service calls or complaints, inspections) to make local data publicly available and to improve STLT health agencies and other stakeholders’ data-driven decision making and to be more adept when addressing potential zoonotic transmissions and enhance potential for a more unified response to rodent infestations in urban areas (Year 1). Use findings from the comprehensive environmental scan to conduct an evaluation of rodent management strategies in distinct New Orleans neighborhoods in order to create a rodent surveillance and mitigation plan for other cities to adapt for effective rodent control. We anticipate to identify gaps in rodent data based on the environmental scan (Year 1-3). Build sustainable partnerships (including with businesses and communities) to ensure a common understanding and buy-in for interagency and cross-sector data sharing among data stakeholders (e.g., people, processes, systems and interfaces) to facilitate and cement the necessary resources needed for rodent management in urban areas and to prevent potential adverse damage and health effects) (Year 2-5). Develop, test and launch a prototype open access web-based mapping platform linked with a mobile survey application to make local data accessible in real-time and to provide direction for the prevention and mitigation of rodents (Year 2-5). Attainment of these outcomes will truly change rodent management procedures in urban areas and dramatically expand the ability of STLT health agencies in affected cities to detect and respond to new rodent threats as well as greatly improve population health outcomes.
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