Targeting Information Dissemination to Improve

Targeting Information Dissemination to Improve

Neighborhood Protection During a Wildlife Rabies Outbreak

Monterey County Health1 & IT2 DepartmentsKristy Meyer, MS1 Darryl Tyler2

Patricia Zerounian, MPP1 Krista Hanni, PhD1

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Rabies

CDC 2007

• Passed in saliva of infected animals• 100% fatal without PEP• 100% preventable• 6,940 animal cases in 2006 (US)

– 92% of cases in wildlife• Raccoons, bats, skunks, & foxes

– 8% in domestic animals• 3 human cases in 2006 (US)

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Monterey County Animal Rabies Cases

Last 10 years: skunks (34), bats (24), foxes (2)

0

5

10

15

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

An

imal

Cas

es

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2006 Animal Rabies Outbreak

• May-July 2006• Concentrated in North Monterey County• Limited penetration of conventional media

alerts into community

Needed to identify a specific at-risk population and quickly convey targeted information

Identify At-Risk Population

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Targeted Dissemination

• Parcel owner address ≠ residential address• Mailing house option• Balanced costs with speed and accuracy• Completed some work in-house• Cost: $920 for printing & mailing 3,900

postcards

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Monterey Co Animal Services160 Hitchcock RoadSalinas, CA 93908

Resident99 Pasteur AveSalinas, CA 93908

PLEASE SHARE THIS POSTCARD WITH ALL PROPERTY RESIDENTS!

Favor de mostrar esta postal con todos los residentes e la vivienda.

Rabies AlertReport any of the following IMMEDIATELY to

Monterey County Animal Services 831-769-8850

• Skunks, foxes or bats out during a sunny day or acting strangely (unusually aggressive or tame, drooling, staggering or not able to easily move or spray).

• Any time a person or pet has contact with a wild animal.• Human contact with a pet after pet/wildlife fight.

• Bat in the living space of your home.

¡Alerta contra la Rabia!Reporte IMEDIATAMENTE lo siguiente a:

Monterey County Animal Services831-769-8850/769-8845 (español)

• Zorrillos, zorros o murciélagos que anden afuera durante el día o que estén actuando raro (mas agresivo o mansito de lo normal, babeando, desorientados, con dificultades para

moverse o para mear).• Cundo una persona o mascota tiene contacto con animales

salvajes, especialmente si hubo pelea entre ambos.• Si un murciélago se encuentra dentro de su casa.

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Results• Targeted residents received mailer

within 2 weeks• County-sponsored vaccine clinic in

North County• 200% increase in licensing revenues• Reflective of greater public awareness

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Subsequent Events

• July 2007: in-house mailing to rural route addresses in “hot spot” area

• September 2007: delineated specific area of concern for individual incident– Media alert– Response time < 2 hours

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Project Evolution

Single Rabies Event

Workflow Process

Multiple Communicable Disease

and Preparedness Applications

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Potential Applications

Contact Information

Kristy Meyer, Research AnalystMonterey County Health Department

1270 Natividad RoadSalinas, CA 93906

meyerkj1@co.monterey.ca.us831.755.4698