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 Background
Martin 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 Background
MCMEC 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 ?