329 - Changes in reported local mosquito surveillance and control capacity between 2017 and 2023

Abstract: The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), under a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conducted the third iteration of the Vector Assessment, a national assessment of the mosquito and tick surveillance and control activities of local vector programs. The assessment began in October 2023 and closed in December 2023. A total of 474 responses were recorded over this time, yielding a response rate of 30 percent. The first iteration of the assessment was conducted in 2017, and the second in 2020. A comparison of results over time shows that a total of 192 programs completed all three assessments. This session will explore trends in mosquito surveillance and control capacity between 2017 and 2023 using the results of the 2017, 2020, and 2023 Vector Assessments, as well as supplemental qualitative information. While overall there have been improvements in surveillance and control capacity between 2017 and 2023, there was a slight decline in reported capacity between 2020 and 2023. In addition, while reported capacity for insecticide resistance testing has improved since 2017, a majority of programs still report being unable to perform this crucial activity. Capacity for other activities, such as routine surveillance, adulticiding or larviciding, and community education and outreach were reported by most programs in 2023. Local vector control capacity in the United States allows for both the detection of and response to existing and emerging disease risks. As average temperatures continue to increase across the country, leading to expanding vector habitats, local programs play a more vital role than ever as county-by-county surveillance and control measures can help quickly identify and mitigate the rapidly shifting risks. A better understanding of the successes and challenges at the local level can help to strengthen the overall national response to vector-borne disease risks.