OASH Seeks Feedback on National Strategy to Prevent Vector-Borne Illnesses

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) is seeking input from subject matter experts, non-federal stakeholders and other members of the public to develop a national strategy on vector-borne diseases, including tick-borne diseases. 

According to the Federal Register notice, vector-borne diseases, including diseases caused by mosquitoes, ticks and fleas, pose an increasing threat to national health. From 2004 to 2018, cases of vector-borne diseases doubled within the United States, and nine new pathogens – including chikungunya and Zika viruses – emerged or were discovered in the country. 

In response to these public health challenges, the five-year national strategy – mandated by Congress as part of the Kay Hagan Tick Act - will establish goals to address vector-borne diseases through improved surveillance, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and research. It will also identify strategies and benchmarks to measure and drive progress toward achieving these goals.

To inform the national strategy, OASH is soliciting feedback from stakeholders that addresses the following four questions: 

• What are your top priorities to address vector-borne diseases in the United States during the next five years? Why are these the most important priorities?
• What goals, objectives and strategies would you propose for each of your top priority areas?
• Do you have recommendations on specific research or programmatic efforts to improve surveillance, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of vector-borne diseases? 
• Any additional topics on which you wish to provide input. 

The deadline to submit comments is June 11. Instructions are available online.