Surveillance and Control

The major activities in vector and rodent control occur during the postdisaster period. If the immediate surveys and other sources of information indicate a potential problem, the sot>ner that postdisaster programs arc implemented to reduce the disease potential, the less is the chance that epidemics will occur and the Iess is the overall expense to the government. Delaying action until an epidemic is at its height can be medically and economically disastrous.

Reestablishing and upgrading routine control operations,, surveillance activities and training of' staff members will go far in lessening the chance and/or impact of' en arthropod-borne epidemic. Operational manuals for control of malaria and Aedes aegypti caused diseases prepared by the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization can assist in planning these activities.

Emergency Action in the Event of a Vector-Borne Disease Outbreak

Should the immediate action to bring vector populations under control prove insufficient, and a vector-borne disease outbreak result, all efforts should be made to reduce infective adult mosquito populations as soon as possible, by such space spray methods as aerial ultra-low volume (ULV) applications, vehicle-mounted and portable thermal foggers, aerosol generators or portable mist ultra-low volume blowers, Details about these methods art given in Part II. under "Specific Vector Problems."