Health-Related Crises
Tick-Borne Disease Symposium and Think Tank Event (2013)
The first Tick-Borne Disease Symposium was hosted on December 5th, 2013 at the University of Florida. The program featured distinguished guest speakers, including Dr. Paul Auwaerter, Clinical Director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Dr. Carina Blackmore of the Florida Department of Health, Dr. Kerry Clark of the University of North Florida’s Brooks College of Health, and Dr. Cynthia Lord of UF’s Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory. The talks focused on the importance, contemporary, and transdisciplinary issues related to tick-borne disease in the U.S., and specifically in Florida. Three main topic areas for discussion were also facilitated: 1) key issues related to tick-borne disease in Florida; 2) research capacity development; 3) multidisciplinary collaborative opportunities; and 4) potential research funding sources. A poster session followed the presentations and featured the latest tick-borne disease research from researchers at UF and other U.S. institutions. This project was led by Dr. Holly Donohoe with support from a TCMI doctoral student, Ashley Schroeder, and funded by the UF Emerging Pathogens Institute.
Employee and Visitor Perceptions and Precautions related to Lyme Disease Risk in Florida State Parks
Given the growing concern about emergent infectious diseases and their potential implications for both the supply and demand for tourism, this study will provide the data necessary for informing individual, community, and industry health risk management decision-making, occupational risk training, and public health interventions by Florida State Parks, Visit Florida, Florida Department of Health, and tourism operators. Employees with state agencies involved in land management, conservation, and outdoor recreation will be asked to complete a survey about their knowledge, risk perceptions, precautionary behavior, and exposure to ticks and tick-borne diseases at work. This study will inform the development of tick-borne disease risk assessment tools, longitudinal and comparative studies, educational interventions and training programs, and future research designed to prevent tick-borne diseases and mitigate its impacts in Florida. This project is led by Dr. Holly Donohoe and Dr. Lori Pennington-Gray. This project is funded by the Bill Sims Faculty Grant administered by EFTI and the Travel and Tourism Research Association.