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Empowering the Community in the Fight Against Mosquito-Borne Illnesses | Casey Parker | TEDxUF


[Music]

[Music] every bone in my body had shattered I

every bone in my body had shattered I

every bone in my body had shattered I had 104 fever for days my clothes and my

had 104 fever for days my clothes and my

had 104 fever for days my clothes and my bedsheets hurt my skin which left me

bedsheets hurt my skin which left me

bedsheets hurt my skin which left me lying naked on the bed for days on end I

lying naked on the bed for days on end I

lying naked on the bed for days on end I was cold and shivering constantly but I

was cold and shivering constantly but I

was cold and shivering constantly but I couldn’t cover myself because of the

couldn’t cover myself because of the

couldn’t cover myself because of the excruciating pain these are not my words

excruciating pain these are not my words

excruciating pain these are not my words but the words of an incredible woman

but the words of an incredible woman

but the words of an incredible woman that I have known since childhood my

that I have known since childhood my

that I have known since childhood my friend Lizzie contracted dengue in 2013

friend Lizzie contracted dengue in 2013

friend Lizzie contracted dengue in 2013 and in that year she was one of about 30

and in that year she was one of about 30

and in that year she was one of about 30 cases in the state of Florida and

cases in the state of Florida and

cases in the state of Florida and unfortunately Lizzie is just one of

unfortunately Lizzie is just one of

unfortunately Lizzie is just one of hundreds of millions of cases that occur

hundreds of millions of cases that occur

hundreds of millions of cases that occur globally every year Lizzie was no match

globally every year Lizzie was no match

globally every year Lizzie was no match for what came as a result of the

for what came as a result of the

for what came as a result of the mosquito-borne illness known as

mosquito-borne illness known as

mosquito-borne illness known as breakbone fever for reference Lizzie is

breakbone fever for reference Lizzie is

breakbone fever for reference Lizzie is not very sensitive to pain she has spent

not very sensitive to pain she has spent

not very sensitive to pain she has spent her life around horses had shingles when

her life around horses had shingles when

her life around horses had shingles when she was 18 bronchitis mono broken bones

she was 18 bronchitis mono broken bones

she was 18 bronchitis mono broken bones and she also has a number of tattoos I

and she also has a number of tattoos I

and she also has a number of tattoos I would say she has a pretty high

would say she has a pretty high

would say she has a pretty high tolerance for pain the issue of mosquito

tolerance for pain the issue of mosquito

tolerance for pain the issue of mosquito vector diseases is one that has received

vector diseases is one that has received

vector diseases is one that has received increasing amounts of attention in the

increasing amounts of attention in the

increasing amounts of attention in the United States in recent years you may

United States in recent years you may

United States in recent years you may have heard of Zika but controlling the

have heard of Zika but controlling the

have heard of Zika but controlling the mosquitoes that vector Zika is not a new

mosquitoes that vector Zika is not a new

mosquitoes that vector Zika is not a new endeavor as a graduate student I started

endeavor as a graduate student I started

endeavor as a graduate student I started working on new technologies to combat

working on new technologies to combat

working on new technologies to combat these mosquitoes this is about the same

these mosquitoes this is about the same

these mosquitoes this is about the same time that my friend Lizzie contracted

time that my friend Lizzie contracted

time that my friend Lizzie contracted dengue which ignited an even greater

dengue which ignited an even greater

dengue which ignited an even greater passion for the research I was doing

passion for the research I was doing

passion for the research I was doing which started out as a simple research

which started out as a simple research

which started out as a simple research project turned into a persistent goal to

project turned into a persistent goal to

project turned into a persistent goal to control mosquitoes and prevent disease

control mosquitoes and prevent disease

control mosquitoes and prevent disease transmission the technology we were

transmission the technology we were

transmission the technology we were developing was a mosquito trap

developing was a mosquito trap

developing was a mosquito trap specifically targeted at controlling ATS

specifically targeted at controlling ATS

specifically targeted at controlling ATS a gyp died and 80s albopictus these

a gyp died and 80s albopictus these

a gyp died and 80s albopictus these mosquitoes are infamous in our world

mosquitoes are infamous in our world

mosquitoes are infamous in our world because they carry not one not two but

because they carry not one not two but

because they carry not one not two but over 20 different viruses this includes

over 20 different viruses this includes

over 20 different viruses this includes well-known examples like dengue

well-known examples like dengue

well-known examples like dengue chikungunya yellow fever and Zika they

chikungunya yellow fever and Zika they

chikungunya yellow fever and Zika they have grabbed the attention

have grabbed the attention

have grabbed the attention scientists around the world not only due

scientists around the world not only due

scientists around the world not only due to their ability to transmit but because

to their ability to transmit but because

to their ability to transmit but because of the challenge they present when it

of the challenge they present when it

of the challenge they present when it comes to control when it comes to

comes to control when it comes to

comes to control when it comes to mosquitoes all species are unique in

mosquitoes all species are unique in

mosquitoes all species are unique in some way or another whether it’s what

some way or another whether it’s what

some way or another whether it’s what they feed on when they are blood feeding

they feed on when they are blood feeding

they feed on when they are blood feeding or where they like to lay their eggs but

or where they like to lay their eggs but

or where they like to lay their eggs but it isn’t enough for ATS mosquitoes to

it isn’t enough for ATS mosquitoes to

it isn’t enough for ATS mosquitoes to feel just a little different they really

feel just a little different they really

feel just a little different they really want to stand out from the blood sucking

want to stand out from the blood sucking

want to stand out from the blood sucking crowd so they like to lay their eggs in

crowd so they like to lay their eggs in

crowd so they like to lay their eggs in small containers instead of large bodies

small containers instead of large bodies

small containers instead of large bodies of water like lakes they feed during the

of water like lakes they feed during the

of water like lakes they feed during the day instead of at night and they love

day instead of at night and they love

day instead of at night and they love love love to feed on humans as an insect

love love to feed on humans as an insect

love love to feed on humans as an insect vector biologist this presents a real

vector biologist this presents a real

vector biologist this presents a real problem ATS a gyp died and a tease

problem ATS a gyp died and a tease

problem ATS a gyp died and a tease albopictus whom we can now call

albopictus whom we can now call

albopictus whom we can now call container mosquitoes are excellent

container mosquitoes are excellent

container mosquitoes are excellent vectors of disease and the number one

vectors of disease and the number one

vectors of disease and the number one thing they are feeding on is us this

thing they are feeding on is us this

thing they are feeding on is us this creates a disastrous situation for

creates a disastrous situation for

creates a disastrous situation for disease transmission especially

disease transmission especially

disease transmission especially considering that these mosquitoes can be

considering that these mosquitoes can be

considering that these mosquitoes can be found around the world to combat this my

found around the world to combat this my

found around the world to combat this my colleagues and I believe that

colleagues and I believe that

colleagues and I believe that controlling container mosquitoes was a

controlling container mosquitoes was a

controlling container mosquitoes was a question that needed more answers our

question that needed more answers our

question that needed more answers our contribution to this growing body of

contribution to this growing body of

contribution to this growing body of research was it was a trap it took

research was it was a trap it took

research was it was a trap it took everything we knew about their behavior

everything we knew about their behavior

everything we knew about their behavior and it turned it against them the final

and it turned it against them the final

and it turned it against them the final product was a small black and red

product was a small black and red

product was a small black and red container that contained two

container that contained two

container that contained two insecticides here’s how the trap works a

insecticides here’s how the trap works a

insecticides here’s how the trap works a female mosquito flies into the trap

female mosquito flies into the trap

female mosquito flies into the trap looking for a place to lay her eggs she

looking for a place to lay her eggs she

looking for a place to lay her eggs she lands on the interior surface of the

lands on the interior surface of the

lands on the interior surface of the trap and comes into contact the lethal

trap and comes into contact the lethal

trap and comes into contact the lethal dose of pesticide if she is able to lay

dose of pesticide if she is able to lay

dose of pesticide if she is able to lay her eggs

her eggs

her eggs they are successfully killed by the

they are successfully killed by the

they are successfully killed by the insecticide mixture which is also in the

insecticide mixture which is also in the

insecticide mixture which is also in the trap when we tested this trap in the

trap when we tested this trap in the

trap when we tested this trap in the laboratory we got positive results which

laboratory we got positive results which

laboratory we got positive results which showed that we could significantly

showed that we could significantly

showed that we could significantly reduce the number of adult mosquitoes in

reduce the number of adult mosquitoes in

reduce the number of adult mosquitoes in a treated cage the next step from

a treated cage the next step from

a treated cage the next step from successful lab studies was to test the

successful lab studies was to test the

successful lab studies was to test the trap in the field it wasn’t going to

trap in the field it wasn’t going to

trap in the field it wasn’t going to help anyone if it sat in the laboratory

help anyone if it sat in the laboratory

help anyone if it sat in the laboratory forever field studies for the trap are

forever field studies for the trap are

forever field studies for the trap are ongoing but one thing has become

ongoing but one thing has become

ongoing but one thing has become abundantly clear while testing this trap

abundantly clear while testing this trap

abundantly clear while testing this trap isn’t going to work on its own

isn’t going to work on its own

isn’t going to work on its own mosquitos is kind of like an art you

mosquitos is kind of like an art you

mosquitos is kind of like an art you have to try many different control

have to try many different control

have to try many different control measures until you find the combination

measures until you find the combination

measures until you find the combination that works for that species the

that works for that species the

that works for that species the container mosquitoes not only need forms

container mosquitoes not only need forms

container mosquitoes not only need forms of active control like traps and

of active control like traps and

of active control like traps and insecticide sprays but they also require

insecticide sprays but they also require

insecticide sprays but they also require community participation controlling

community participation controlling

community participation controlling container mosquitoes is impossible

container mosquitoes is impossible

container mosquitoes is impossible without participation from the community

without participation from the community

without participation from the community the immature stage of the mosquito lives

the immature stage of the mosquito lives

the immature stage of the mosquito lives in the water and the container

in the water and the container

in the water and the container mosquitoes favorite place to develop is

mosquitoes favorite place to develop is

mosquitoes favorite place to develop is inside man-made containers this is how

inside man-made containers this is how

inside man-made containers this is how they made it into the u.s. in the first

they made it into the u.s. in the first

they made it into the u.s. in the first place the hitchhiked and products like

place the hitchhiked and products like

place the hitchhiked and products like tires they’ve adapted to develop in just

tires they’ve adapted to develop in just

tires they’ve adapted to develop in just about any type of container you can

about any type of container you can

about any type of container you can think of that includes bird baths your

think of that includes bird baths your

think of that includes bird baths your dog’s water bowl the cooler that’s still

dog’s water bowl the cooler that’s still

dog’s water bowl the cooler that’s still sitting in your backyard from the last

sitting in your backyard from the last

sitting in your backyard from the last barbecue they could all be developing

barbecue they could all be developing

barbecue they could all be developing mosquitoes and this is not only a

mosquitoes and this is not only a

mosquitoes and this is not only a problem for the United States these

problem for the United States these

problem for the United States these mosquitoes are found globally which

mosquitoes are found globally which

mosquitoes are found globally which means that’s all that is required to

means that’s all that is required to

means that’s all that is required to vector disease is an infected mosquito

vector disease is an infected mosquito

vector disease is an infected mosquito that infected mosquito feeds on a

that infected mosquito feeds on a

that infected mosquito feeds on a healthy human causing illness and that’s

healthy human causing illness and that’s

healthy human causing illness and that’s exactly what we need to prevent for this

exactly what we need to prevent for this

exactly what we need to prevent for this I need you to pay close attention and if

I need you to pay close attention and if

I need you to pay close attention and if you remember nothing else from me please

you remember nothing else from me please

you remember nothing else from me please remember this mosquito prevention has to

remember this mosquito prevention has to

remember this mosquito prevention has to start with each individual in this room

start with each individual in this room

start with each individual in this room if every person here today were to go

if every person here today were to go

if every person here today were to go around their home once a week and dump

around their home once a week and dump

around their home once a week and dump out any containers holding water it

out any containers holding water it

out any containers holding water it would make future control efforts more

would make future control efforts more

would make future control efforts more effective less standing water leads to

effective less standing water leads to

effective less standing water leads to less mosquito development which means

less mosquito development which means

less mosquito development which means fewer adult mosquitoes to control

fewer adult mosquitoes to control

fewer adult mosquitoes to control through the use of traps and insecticide

through the use of traps and insecticide

through the use of traps and insecticide sprays however just as some mosquitoes

sprays however just as some mosquitoes

sprays however just as some mosquitoes are resistant to insecticides some

are resistant to insecticides some

are resistant to insecticides some people are resistant to mosquito

people are resistant to mosquito

people are resistant to mosquito prevention and control the research that

prevention and control the research that

prevention and control the research that led to all the knowledge and tools to

led to all the knowledge and tools to

led to all the knowledge and tools to help combat these mosquitoes is there

help combat these mosquitoes is there

help combat these mosquitoes is there our next job is getting people to use

our next job is getting people to use

our next job is getting people to use that information and that’s where I need

that information and that’s where I need

that information and that’s where I need your help you have to show people just

your help you have to show people just

your help you have to show people just how simple it is to prevent mosquito

how simple it is to prevent mosquito

how simple it is to prevent mosquito development by just

development by just

development by just turning of trash that holds water and

turning of trash that holds water and

turning of trash that holds water and dumping out containers around the home

dumping out containers around the home

dumping out containers around the home we need to convince our community of the

we need to convince our community of the

we need to convince our community of the importance of eliminating standing water

importance of eliminating standing water

importance of eliminating standing water sources

sources

sources mosquitoes transmit disease plain and

mosquitoes transmit disease plain and

mosquitoes transmit disease plain and simple if an infected mosquito bites you

simple if an infected mosquito bites you

simple if an infected mosquito bites you they could do major damage to your body

they could do major damage to your body

they could do major damage to your body I think it’s difficult for us to

I think it’s difficult for us to

I think it’s difficult for us to understand the severity of this but

understand the severity of this but

understand the severity of this but listen to these words from Lizzy while I

listen to these words from Lizzy while I

listen to these words from Lizzy while I was sitting in the waiting room waiting

was sitting in the waiting room waiting

was sitting in the waiting room waiting to see the sixth doctor I felt like I

to see the sixth doctor I felt like I

to see the sixth doctor I felt like I needed to call my mom to talk about my

needed to call my mom to talk about my

needed to call my mom to talk about my will I thought I was going to die

will I thought I was going to die

will I thought I was going to die so there I was waiting to be called back

so there I was waiting to be called back

so there I was waiting to be called back talking to my mom about what would

talking to my mom about what would

talking to my mom about what would happen to all my stuff if I didn’t make

happen to all my stuff if I didn’t make

happen to all my stuff if I didn’t make it through this

it through this

it through this Lizzy didn’t know what was wrong with

Lizzy didn’t know what was wrong with

Lizzy didn’t know what was wrong with her and neither did doctors and that’s

her and neither did doctors and that’s

her and neither did doctors and that’s the last thing that we want for our

the last thing that we want for our

the last thing that we want for our loved ones and even with an outcome this

loved ones and even with an outcome this

loved ones and even with an outcome this severe we still can’t seem to figure out

severe we still can’t seem to figure out

severe we still can’t seem to figure out the best way to get our message out to

the best way to get our message out to

the best way to get our message out to our audience so now the problem isn’t

our audience so now the problem isn’t

our audience so now the problem isn’t how do we get these mosquitoes under

how do we get these mosquitoes under

how do we get these mosquitoes under control it’s how do we get people to

control it’s how do we get people to

control it’s how do we get people to help themselves

help themselves

help themselves now we have to overcome communication as

now we have to overcome communication as

now we have to overcome communication as a barrier to success communication of

a barrier to success communication of

a barrier to success communication of our research findings can be really

our research findings can be really

our research findings can be really difficult for some scientists and it can

difficult for some scientists and it can

difficult for some scientists and it can prevent our message from reaching the

prevent our message from reaching the

prevent our message from reaching the public to combat this breakdown in

public to combat this breakdown in

public to combat this breakdown in communication we’re constantly trying to

communication we’re constantly trying to

communication we’re constantly trying to find new ways to more effectively get

find new ways to more effectively get

find new ways to more effectively get our message out to the community one of

our message out to the community one of

our message out to the community one of the projects we are working on involves

the projects we are working on involves

the projects we are working on involves taking an established member of a small

taking an established member of a small

taking an established member of a small underserved community not a professor or

underserved community not a professor or

underserved community not a professor or a government official and having them go

a government official and having them go

a government official and having them go door to door to talk to their neighbor

door to door to talk to their neighbor

door to door to talk to their neighbor about the importance of mosquitoes in

about the importance of mosquitoes in

about the importance of mosquitoes in the area and how they can help our hope

the area and how they can help our hope

the area and how they can help our hope is that hearing the message from someone

is that hearing the message from someone

is that hearing the message from someone they know and trust will inspire action

they know and trust will inspire action

they know and trust will inspire action we’re also developing programs for

we’re also developing programs for

we’re also developing programs for school-aged children that involve search

school-aged children that involve search

school-aged children that involve search and find activities for water-holding

and find activities for water-holding

and find activities for water-holding containers around the home the hardest

containers around the home the hardest

containers around the home the hardest part is keeping people engaged in warmer

part is keeping people engaged in warmer

part is keeping people engaged in warmer climates like Florida mosquito

climates like Florida mosquito

climates like Florida mosquito prevention has to be done year-round it

prevention has to be done year-round it

prevention has to be done year-round it is difficult getting the community info

is difficult getting the community info

is difficult getting the community info but it is a crucial part in the fight

but it is a crucial part in the fight

but it is a crucial part in the fight against mosquitoes when working on my

against mosquitoes when working on my

against mosquitoes when working on my research project I find myself thinking

research project I find myself thinking

research project I find myself thinking about Lizzy in her experience a lot it

about Lizzy in her experience a lot it

about Lizzy in her experience a lot it provides a continuous source of

provides a continuous source of

provides a continuous source of motivation for the work that I do

motivation for the work that I do

motivation for the work that I do fortunately she made it through this

fortunately she made it through this

fortunately she made it through this mosquito-borne illness but not everyone

mosquito-borne illness but not everyone

mosquito-borne illness but not everyone does what if what happened to her

does what if what happened to her

does what if what happened to her happened to you or a friend a sibling a

happened to you or a friend a sibling a

happened to you or a friend a sibling a neighbor before this presentation you

neighbor before this presentation you

neighbor before this presentation you would have said that you were helpless

would have said that you were helpless

would have said that you were helpless and that you didn’t know how to help but

and that you didn’t know how to help but

and that you didn’t know how to help but now you do you know exactly what you can

now you do you know exactly what you can

now you do you know exactly what you can do to prevent what happened to Lizzie

do to prevent what happened to Lizzie

do to prevent what happened to Lizzie from happening to you or your loved ones

from happening to you or your loved ones

from happening to you or your loved ones you have the knowledge you need to wage

you have the knowledge you need to wage

you have the knowledge you need to wage your own war on mosquitoes and I fully

your own war on mosquitoes and I fully

your own war on mosquitoes and I fully expect you to do that I’ve decided to

expect you to do that I’ve decided to

expect you to do that I’ve decided to dedicate my life to vector research and

dedicate my life to vector research and

dedicate my life to vector research and public health interventions I know that

public health interventions I know that

public health interventions I know that not everyone in the room will follow me

not everyone in the room will follow me

not everyone in the room will follow me on that path but if you decide to be a

on that path but if you decide to be a

on that path but if you decide to be a part of the solution I believe that we

part of the solution I believe that we

part of the solution I believe that we could have a dramatic impact on these

could have a dramatic impact on these

could have a dramatic impact on these mosquitoes and their ability to transmit

mosquitoes and their ability to transmit

mosquitoes and their ability to transmit disease thank you

”

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