The Zika Working Group and Pick-a-Day to Fight-the-Bite Initiative

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

The 2014-2015 emergence of Zika virus in South America was recognized by the Henrico County Standing Water Initiative (SWI) and the Henrico County Health Department (HCHD) as a potential health threat to Henrico residents. In February 2016, a partnership was formed between the SWI, HCHD, and the Henrico County Division of Fire (DOF) to share information and updates and to increase situational awareness about Zika. As Zika transmission spread through Central America, so did Henrico’s Zika preparations. Bi-weekly meetings between the SWI, HCHD, and DOF expanded to incorporate a total of nine Henrico County departments. Eventually, representatives from the City of Richmond and the counties of Chesterfield and Hanover were incorporated. The newly formed Zika Working Group (Working Group) developed a Henrico Zika Preparedness and Response Plan to promote active Zika awareness and education among all residents in the Central Virginia area. The Working Group established a Unified Command structure using Incident Command System templates and guidance from the DOF; created and organized sub-committees based on technical and functional capabilities; developed and disseminated educational materials that focused on a unified message of “Pick-a-Day to Fight-the-Bite”; trained community instructors and volunteers; and organized (and staffed) numerous outreach programs. The implementation of a formal Response Plan, a Unified Command structure, and community outreach effectively increased awareness about and may have mitigated the potential for local Zika virus transmission.