NEVBD

What is this project about?

This project is focused on connecting with residents of rural communities in the prevention of Lyme disease. We want to learn what rural community residents think about Lyme disease and how to prevent it.

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States, affecting more than 470,000 people each year. People who live in rural areas have a higher chance of making contact with infected ticks that can spread Lyme disease and other illnesses. Rural communities may also face challenges accessing healthcare and other resources that can protect them from illnesses spread by ticks.

We are connecting with members of rural communities through focus groups and surveys so that their experiences and thoughts are included in community programming about tick safety.

Who is leading this project?

This project is led by a team from the Cornell University Department of Entomology and Department of Public & Ecosystem Health.

• Emily Mader, MPH MPP
• Amelia Greiner Safi, PhD
• Anya Gruber, PhD, MPH Candidate
• Yiwei (Michael) Feng, MPH Candidate

What is this project about?

The northeast region of the United States is home to over 57 million residents. Communicating vector-borne disease risks to a population this large requires something more than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Our project goal is to strengthen how we measure community characteristics that are important for understanding vector-borne disease risk and promoting bite prevention.

We are doing this by 1) improving our assessment tools to better measure people’s preferences, motivations, and behaviors around vector bite prevention, and 2) making connections with people who have increased exposure risks through their work, hobbies, place of residence, or cultural background.

Who is leading this project?

NEVBD supports a collaborative team from multiple institutions on this project.

Working with Livestock Producers in Maryland on Tick Bite Prevention // University of Maryland Department of Entomology

• Megan Fritz, PhD
• Logan Owens, MS Candidate

Understanding Bite Prevention Behaviors for Turf Grass and Pest Management Professionals in New York State // Cornell Integrated Pest Management Program

• Joellen Lampman, MS

Willingness to Pay for Residential Tick Control in Urban Communities // Columbia University Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology

• Maria Diuk-Wasser, PhD
• Linghui Wu, PhD
• Heather Kopsco, PhD

Incorporating Behavioral Theory into Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Assessments // Cornell University Department of Public & Ecosystem Health and Department of Entomology

• Amelia Greiner Safi, PhD
• Emily Mader, MPH MPP

What is this project about?

The northeast region is one of the riskiest areas for tickborne diseases in the United States. Frontline medical providers who work in emergency departments, urgent care centers, and primary care offices are often the first point of contact for patients experiencing tickborne illnesses.

Our goals for this project are to identify the practice patterns and learning needs of emergency and urgent care clinicians on the diagnosis and management of tickborne illnesses.

This project will identify important knowledge gaps and strengths of emergency medicine and urgent care clinicians on multiple tickborne illnesses in the northeast region. We will also identify the approaches for designing and providing continuing education on tickborne diseases for this clinical community.

Who is leading this project?

This project is led by NEVBD investigators at the MaineHealth Institute for Research, Columbia University, Cornell University, members of our NEVBD Advisory Board, and a panel of physician partners from across the region.

MaineHealth Institute for Research - Vector-Borne Disease Lab

• Robert P. Smith, MD
• Susan Elias, PhD

Cornell University Department of Entomology and Department of Public & Ecosystem Health

• Emily Mader, MPH MPP
• Amelia Greiner Safi, PhD

Columbia University Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology

• Heather Kopsco, PhD

Physician Advisory Panel

• David Della-Giustina, MD - Yale School of Medicine, Yale Medicine
• Laura Kirkman, MD - Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University
• Kristopher Paolino, MD - SUNY Upstate Medical University

NEVBD Advisory Board

• Kim Cervantes, New Jersey Department of Health
• Jennifer White, New York State Department of Health
• Christopher Barker, University of California-Davis, PacVec