Incident Tick-Borne Infections in a Cohort of North Carolina Outdoor Workers

Wallace, John W.; Nicholson, William L.; Perniciaro, Jamie L.; Vaughn, Meagan F.; Funkhouser, Sheana; Juliano, Jonathan J.; Lee, Sangmi; Kakumanu, Madhavi L.; Ponnusamy, Loganathan; Apperson, Charles S.; Meshnick, Steven R.

doi:10.1089/vbz.2015.1887

Cited by 24 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Because of the increased amount of time spent in suitable tick habitats, it is believed that people in outdoor occupations may be at increased risk for TBD [ 21 ]. Seroprevalence studies suggest this may be particularly true for those who work in forestry [ 22 – 25 ]; however, risks associated with outdoor workers in the U.S. have not been adequately explored. Forests cover about 17 million acres, or approximately 46% of Wisconsin’s land cover, with about 9% of the forest in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (CNNF) located in the northern regions of the state where reported incidence rates for LD are highest [ 26 , 27 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tickborne disease awareness and protective practices among U.S. Forest Service employees from the upper Midwest, USA

Schotthoefer

Stinebaugh

Martin³

et al. 2020

BMC Public Health

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Background People with occupations that require them to spend time working outdoors in suitable tick habitats are predicted to be at an increased risk for tick-borne diseases (TBDs). However, few studies have assessed the risks of outdoor employees in the United States. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey to collect data on exposure to ticks and TBD infections among U.S. Forest Service employees in a high TBD incidence region of northern Wisconsin, and to examine employee knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) regarding TBDs to help guide future education and prevention programs. Chi-square contingency tables, calculations of odds ratios, and logistic regression models were used to identify associations among self-reported employee factors, the proportion of correctly answered knowledge questions, their ranked concern for TBDs, adherence to practicing preventive behaviors, and willingness to pay for protective measures. Results Ninety-five employees completed the survey. Nearly all respondents (97%) reported recent tick exposure, with 27% reporting encountering 10 or more ticks per week during peak tick season. Employee knowledge of TBD was high (median score: 80% correct). Fifty-nine percent of respondents had high concern for TBDs, and there was high adherence to conducting body checks for ticks (83% reported always doing them), but only moderate use of tick repellents (24% reported always and 60% reported occasionally using). High concern for TBD (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 6.32 [95% confidence intervals, 1.97–20.28]), a history of TBD diagnosis (aOR = 5.88 [1.41–24.55]), and older age (≥ 46 years) (aOR = 3.29 [1.00–10.84]) were positively associated with high practice adherence. Respondents suggested they would be willing to pay for personal protective methods and get a hypothetical vaccine for Lyme disease, but not community-wide efforts to control ticks. Conclusions Our study provides evidence that U.S. Forest Service employees in Wisconsin represent a high risk group for TBD, and despite relatively high TBD knowledge and engagement in tick protection activities, efforts are needed to reduce their risks for tick bites. More generally, our findings suggest that studies to better understand the factors related to the adoption and effectiveness of public health interventions are needed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tickborne disease awareness and protective practices among U.S. Forest Service employees from the upper Midwest, USA

Schotthoefer

Stinebaugh

Martin³

et al. 2020

BMC Public Health

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“…This includes exposures to poisonous plants or animals (e.g., Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, poisonous snakes or spiders), vector-borne diseases (Rickettsial diseases, Lyme, Erlichiosis and perhaps Zika [51]), brambles, and dangerous animals. Many animals, even familiar research subjects, are unpredictable – Large mammals may charge and attack field workers, or may pose a hazard for vehicular accidents.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health Risks to Ecological Workers on Contaminated Sites - The Department of Energy as a Case Study

Burger

Gochfeld

2016

J Community Med Health Educ

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Background At most contaminated sites the risk to workers focuses on those ‘hazardous waste workers’ directly exposed to chemicals or radionuclides, and to the elaborate approaches implemented to protecting their health and safety. Ecological workers generally are not considered. Objectives To explore the risks to the health and safety of ecological workers on sites with potential chemical and radiological exposures before, during or after remediation of contamination. To use the U.S. Department of Energy as a case study, and to develop concepts that apply generally to sites contaminated with hazardous or nuclear wastes, Methods Develop categories of ecological workers, describe their usual jobs, and provide information on the kinds of risks they face. Ecological activities include continued surveillance and monitoring work on any sites with residual contamination, subject to institutional controls and engineered barriers following closure as well as the restoration. Results The categories of ecological workers and their tasks include 1) Ecological characterization, mapping and monitoring, 2) biodiversity studies, 2) Contaminant fate and transport, 3) On-going industrial activities 4) Remediation activities (environmental management), 5) Environmental restoration, 6) Post-cleanup surveillance and monitoring, and 7) Post-closure future site activities. There are a set of functional activities that can occur with different frequencies and intensities, including visual inspection, collecting biological samples, collecting media physical samples, collecting biological debris, restoration planting, and maintaining ecosystems. Conclusions Ecological workers face different exposures and risks than other environmental cleanup workers. Many of their tasks mimic shift work with long hours leading to fatigue, and they are exposed to biological as well as chemical/radiological hazards. DOE and other entities need to examine the risks to ecological workers on site with an eye to risk reduction.

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“…There is often a greater risk of VBD transmission outdoors compared to indoors, as seen for malaria [ 25 ], chikungunya [ 26 ], and tick-borne disease transmission [ 27 ].…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Narrative Review on Health-EDRM Primary Prevention Measures for Vector-Borne Diseases

Chan

Sham

Shahzada

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Climate change is expanding the global at-risk population for vector-borne diseases (VBDs). The World Health Organization (WHO) health emergency and disaster risk management (health-EDRM) framework emphasises the importance of primary prevention of biological hazards and its value in protecting against VBDs. The framework encourages stakeholder coordination and information sharing, though there is still a need to reinforce prevention and recovery within disaster management. This keyword-search based narrative literature review searched databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase and Medline between January 2000 and May 2020, and identified 134 publications. In total, 10 health-EDRM primary prevention measures are summarised at three levels (personal, environmental and household). Enabling factor, limiting factors, co-benefits and strength of evidence were identified. Current studies on primary prevention measures for VBDs focus on health risk-reduction, with minimal evaluation of actual disease reduction. Although prevention against mosquito-borne diseases, notably malaria, has been well-studied, research on other vectors and VBDs remains limited. Other gaps included the limited evidence pertaining to prevention in resource-poor settings and the efficacy of alternatives, discrepancies amongst agencies’ recommendations, and limited studies on the impact of technological advancements and habitat change on VBD prevalence. Health-EDRM primary prevention measures for VBDs require high-priority research to facilitate multifaceted, multi-sectoral, coordinated responses that will enable effective risk mitigation.

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Incident Tick-Borne Infections in a Cohort of North Carolina Outdoor Workers

Cited by 24 publications

References 24 publications

Tickborne disease awareness and protective practices among U.S. Forest Service employees from the upper Midwest, USA

Tickborne disease awareness and protective practices among U.S. Forest Service employees from the upper Midwest, USA

Health Risks to Ecological Workers on Contaminated Sites - The Department of Energy as a Case Study

Narrative Review on Health-EDRM Primary Prevention Measures for Vector-Borne Diseases

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