Sean P. Healy

Promoting Community IPM to Prevent Tick - Borne Diseases

30 - 31 March 2011 

# Monmouth County Mosquito Commission 

# Genesis of A Tick Program

# Tick Program Background

Monmouth

472 square miles 660,000 population 53 municipal governments 8 health departments

# Tick Program Background

david byrne, talking heads 

# And you may ask yourself-well...how did I get here?• 1990 Began collaborating on initiatives aimed at reducing the risk of tick- borne diseases

• 1992 Participated in large - scale field trials to control Ixodes scapularis 

### Monmouth County Mosquito Extermination Commission 

# Tick Program Background

• 1914 Mosquito Commission was founded

– Primary mission mosquito control• 1992 Large - scale field trials to control Ixodes scapularis

Determine the feasibility of suppressing I. scapularis populations in a large residential community Arial application of granular carbaryl by helicopter to wooded residential areas during the peak activity period of nymphs in spring 

# Tick Program Background• This was the first Area -wide project for Tick control that the

Mosquito Commission had participated in 

# Tick Program BackgroundMartin S. Chomsky

Monmouth County Mosquito Commission “believe that the best professional expertise for addressing the problems of controlling ticks and the transmission of tick- borne diseases in New Jersey exists with the county mosquito commissions and mosquito control agencies.” 

# Tick Program BackgroundMCMEC met with representatives of the statewide mosquito community to discuss the necessity to have legislation enacted that would enable counties to authorize agencies of county government to undertake tick related activities Lyme disease number one reported arthropod - borne disease in New Jersey current level of funding devoted to ticks control and tick – borne diseases was inadequate 

# Tick Program Background

# Why was legislation necessary?

In New Jersey Mosquito Control is mandated at the County level by law. This is done through the Public Health Statues of New Jersey under Title 26:9 - 22. The statue also specifies the powers and duties of mosquito control agencies and specifically, the mosquito commissions – 

### this did not include any provisions for tick related activities 

# Tick Program Background

# Tick Program Background

1994 MCMEC spearheaded legislative initiative to enable county mosquito commissions to assume leadership roles in activities related to education and control of ticks
1997 The New Jersey Senate and New Jersey Assembly unanimously passed legislation (S - 560) that would enable counties to authorize mosquito control agencies to undertake tick related activities

# Tick Program Background

1997 Then Governor Christine Todd Whitman signed S - 560 into law on April 1, 1997 

## Public law 1997, chapter 52 (26:2P - 7) Enabled elected county officials to authorize agencies of county government to undertake tick related activities This new law was considered an important event in support of New Jersey’s effort to reduce Lyme disease transmission.

# Tick Program Background

1997 The Commissioners of the MCMEC adopted a resolution on April 30 calling upon the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders to designate the Mosquito Commission as the branch of county government to undertake tickrelated activities.

# Tick Program Background

1997 On June 12 , the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders by resolution named the MCMEC as the agency to assume the responsibilities under S - 560 and was given the authority and a budget provision to initiate the program

# Tick Program Background

1997 The resolution designated the MCMEC to provide surveillance, education, training and recommendations on integrated management of the vectors of Lyme disease and other tick- borne pathogens, and to provide appropriate tick management activities when necessary.

# Tick Program Background
From the onset of the program, a separate budget for the Tick Program was developed and implemented. These funds do not impact on, and are in addition to, those necessary for the proper conduct of a comprehensive mosquito surveillance and control program. Currently $225,000 In 1998, First individual was hired to direct the MCMEC’s tick related activities.Tick Identification and Testing Program for the residents of Monmouth County Research into the ecology of ticks and tick - borne diseases in New Jersey 

# Current Tick Program
Integrated Tick Management program for control of ticks at a County owned facility Relying more heavily on education/training and a host - targeted (4 -

posters strategy to control ticks

Research into developing new control strategies

# Three Primary Tick Species in New Jersey

Ixodes scapularis (Blacklegged Tick) Amblyomma americanum (Lone Star Tick) Dermacentor variabilis (American Dog Tick) Slightly Smaller Tear Drop Shaped Reddish Abdomen Solid Black Scutum Slightly Larger Round in Shape Chestnut Brown Abdomen White Dot on Scutum Largest Oblong Shaped Dark Brown Abdomen White Patterns on Scutum



# The future ?