Operations II
Operations II
Williamson County and Cites Health District (WCCHD) is the only local health department in Central Texas with staff dedicated solely to vector surveillance and control. Collaborations with academic, state, and federal partners have provided invaluable trainings and resources allowing WCCHD to remain prepared for local vector-borne disease (VBD) threats.
The WCCHD Integrated Vector Management (IVM) program was awarded a Vector Control Collaborative (VCC) grant from the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) in early 2023 to mentor the Bell County Public Health District (BCPHD), a neighboring health department, on establishing a mosquito surveillance program. This grant allowed WCCHD to train BCPHD staff on routine adult mosquito surveillance operations such as trapping and species identification, guidance on routine and response procedures, and the creation of a surveillance system to guide treatment recommendations. The BCPHD began with ten Centers for Disease Control gravid traps and due to increased West Nile virus (WNV) activity in central Texas, has increased trap operations across the county. Additionally, this collaboration has allowed for presentations with BCPHD stakeholders on the importance of sustained funding for mosquito surveillance and control. The VCC also benefitted WCCHD by providing funds for professional development and supplies to increase its operational capacity, with an expected 50% increase of trap locations in 2024.
Since mosquito surveillance began in May, a total of 51 WNV-positive mosquito samples have been collected (as of September 23, 2023) from both Bell, and Williamson counties. Human cases of WNV have also been detected in these counties. As VBDs continue to threaten Central Texas, this funding opportunity has allowed these organizations to further address the gap in public health vector surveillance and promote stronger partnerships in this region.