MOSQUITO AWARENESS EDUCATION FOR LOCAL SENIORS

 

Frank Cornine

 

Central Mass. Mosquito Control Project

111 Otis St.

Northborough, MA 01532

 

cornine@cmmcp.org

 

ABSTRACT

As a compliment to its successful Elementary School Education Program, the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project developed a mosquito awareness and education program specifically designed for local seniors.  The goal of this program was to increase the understanding of mosquito-borne disease to seniors in the CMMCP service area in addition to reinforcing personal protection measures and simple residential control techniques.  This initial implementation of the program was conducted in select towns with previous mosquito-borne disease activity, and also in another town following virus isolation early in the season.  The health promotion models behind the design of the program will be discussed, as well as early impressions from the first season of the program.