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Mosquito Hunter | Kacey Ernst | TEDxTucson


have you ever had one of those weeks one

have you ever had one of those weeks one of those weeks where at the end of it

of those weeks where at the end of it

of those weeks where at the end of it you just feel drained tired and ready to

you just feel drained tired and ready to

you just feel drained tired and ready to relax so maybe you come home you pull

relax so maybe you come home you pull

relax so maybe you come home you pull yourself a cold drink and you’re ready

yourself a cold drink and you’re ready

yourself a cold drink and you’re ready to go sit outside on the patio and enjoy

to go sit outside on the patio and enjoy

to go sit outside on the patio and enjoy the beautiful sunset so you go outside

the beautiful sunset so you go outside

the beautiful sunset so you go outside and you’re just starting to settle in

and you’re just starting to settle in

and you’re just starting to settle in and relax when you realize you’re not

and relax when you realize you’re not

and relax when you realize you’re not alone

alone

alone the first one strikes oh yeah you

the first one strikes oh yeah you

the first one strikes oh yeah you guessed it it’s a mosquito yeah they’re

guessed it it’s a mosquito yeah they’re

guessed it it’s a mosquito yeah they’re annoying they cause a lot of it eNOS

annoying they cause a lot of it eNOS

annoying they cause a lot of it eNOS they’re bothersome and they can ruin

they’re bothersome and they can ruin

they’re bothersome and they can ruin your evening outside but as an

your evening outside but as an

your evening outside but as an infectious disease epidemiologist

infectious disease epidemiologist

infectious disease epidemiologist they’re more than just a nuisance to me

they’re more than just a nuisance to me

they’re more than just a nuisance to me half of the world’s population is at

half of the world’s population is at

half of the world’s population is at risk for vector-borne and mosquito-borne

risk for vector-borne and mosquito-borne

risk for vector-borne and mosquito-borne illnesses 1 billion people each year are

illnesses 1 billion people each year are

illnesses 1 billion people each year are infected and up to 1 million people die

so now we live in Arizona there aren’t

so now we live in Arizona there aren’t as many mosquitoes as there are other

as many mosquitoes as there are other

as many mosquitoes as there are other places but now picture this you’ve

places but now picture this you’ve

places but now picture this you’ve gotten a whole two weeks off it’s time

gotten a whole two weeks off it’s time

gotten a whole two weeks off it’s time to go have a vacation and you’re going

to go have a vacation and you’re going

to go have a vacation and you’re going to Rio that sounds like a fun place to

to Rio that sounds like a fun place to

to Rio that sounds like a fun place to go walk the streets enjoy some music

go walk the streets enjoy some music

go walk the streets enjoy some music some food and oh yeah

some food and oh yeah

some food and oh yeah you might get bitten by a mosquito in

you might get bitten by a mosquito in

you might get bitten by a mosquito in Brazil too and Brazil there’s a lot

Brazil too and Brazil there’s a lot

Brazil too and Brazil there’s a lot higher risk of mosquito-borne diseases

higher risk of mosquito-borne diseases

higher risk of mosquito-borne diseases so you might think well yeah maybe I go

so you might think well yeah maybe I go

so you might think well yeah maybe I go to Brazil and I get sick but that’s

to Brazil and I get sick but that’s

to Brazil and I get sick but that’s unlikely to have an effect here

unlikely to have an effect here

unlikely to have an effect here but what you got to remember is that

but what you got to remember is that

but what you got to remember is that something like Zika can have such

something like Zika can have such

something like Zika can have such devastating consequences on one side you

devastating consequences on one side you

devastating consequences on one side you see a child with a normal-sized head if

see a child with a normal-sized head if

see a child with a normal-sized head if you remember Zika is that virus that can

you remember Zika is that virus that can

you remember Zika is that virus that can lead to those devastating health

lead to those devastating health

lead to those devastating health consequences on the other side you see a

consequences on the other side you see a

consequences on the other side you see a child born with microcephaly one of the

child born with microcephaly one of the

child born with microcephaly one of the most severe consequences of a Zika

most severe consequences of a Zika

most severe consequences of a Zika infection and a pregnant woman now I

infection and a pregnant woman now I

infection and a pregnant woman now I don’t know about you but going from that

don’t know about you but going from that

don’t know about you but going from that happy excited moment of having your

happy excited moment of having your

happy excited moment of having your first child to delivering it and seeing

first child to delivering it and seeing

first child to delivering it and seeing a baby with this kind of consequence it

a baby with this kind of consequence it

a baby with this kind of consequence it would be so devastating I don’t want

would be so devastating I don’t want

would be so devastating I don’t want that to be anyone I don’t want that to

that to be anyone I don’t want that to

that to be anyone I don’t want that to be one of my three daughters and even

be one of my three daughters and even

be one of my three daughters and even though it seems like these things are a

though it seems like these things are a

though it seems like these things are a half a globe away it takes less than 24

half a globe away it takes less than 24

half a globe away it takes less than 24 hours for any of these diseases to come

hours for any of these diseases to come

hours for any of these diseases to come into our home area and we already do

into our home area and we already do

into our home area and we already do have the mosquitoes here that transmit

have the mosquitoes here that transmit

have the mosquitoes here that transmit Zika they’re called ATS a gyp die

Zika they’re called ATS a gyp die

Zika they’re called ATS a gyp die they’re one of the most difficult

they’re one of the most difficult

they’re one of the most difficult mosquitoes to control they’re the ones

mosquitoes to control they’re the ones

mosquitoes to control they’re the ones that when you are out on your patio

that when you are out on your patio

that when you are out on your patio you’re slapping at your ankles and they

you’re slapping at your ankles and they

you’re slapping at your ankles and they seem to fly so fast you can’t quite get

seem to fly so fast you can’t quite get

seem to fly so fast you can’t quite get them yeah that’s the one and they

them yeah that’s the one and they

them yeah that’s the one and they transmit a lot of other diseases in Zika

transmit a lot of other diseases in Zika

transmit a lot of other diseases in Zika they transmit dengue chikungunya me ro

they transmit dengue chikungunya me ro

they transmit dengue chikungunya me ro yellow fever I have a story about

yellow fever I have a story about

yellow fever I have a story about chikungunya a friend of mine in Jamaica

chikungunya a friend of mine in Jamaica

chikungunya a friend of mine in Jamaica when I visited her she said que si

when I visited her she said que si

when I visited her she said que si oh I had chikungunya and she said my

oh I had chikungunya and she said my

oh I had chikungunya and she said my hands hurt so badly I couldn’t open a

hands hurt so badly I couldn’t open a

hands hurt so badly I couldn’t open a doorknob couldn’t open a door knob for

doorknob couldn’t open a door knob for

doorknob couldn’t open a door knob for two weeks and it took months before her

two weeks and it took months before her

two weeks and it took months before her arthritis resolved from the disease and

arthritis resolved from the disease and

arthritis resolved from the disease and we already have some mosquito-borne

we already have some mosquito-borne

we already have some mosquito-borne illnesses here we have West Nile virus

illnesses here we have West Nile virus

illnesses here we have West Nile virus West Nile virus killed eight people in

West Nile virus killed eight people in

West Nile virus killed eight people in Arizona just last year and things are

Arizona just last year and things are

Arizona just last year and things are changing those may seem like fairly low

changing those may seem like fairly low

changing those may seem like fairly low numbers

numbers

numbers to you and by comparison to a lot of

to you and by comparison to a lot of

to you and by comparison to a lot of places in the world they are what you

places in the world they are what you

places in the world they are what you see here is the global temperatures in

see here is the global temperatures in

see here is the global temperatures in 1884 compared to the global temperatures

1884 compared to the global temperatures

1884 compared to the global temperatures between a standard of 1951 and 1980 fast

between a standard of 1951 and 1980 fast

between a standard of 1951 and 1980 fast forward to 2016 this is what it looks

forward to 2016 this is what it looks

forward to 2016 this is what it looks like now climate change is happening and

like now climate change is happening and

like now climate change is happening and it’s making our planet warmer so what

it’s making our planet warmer so what

it’s making our planet warmer so what does that have to do with mosquito-borne

does that have to do with mosquito-borne

does that have to do with mosquito-borne illnesses actually a lot so mosquitoes

illnesses actually a lot so mosquitoes

illnesses actually a lot so mosquitoes habitats are based upon the temperature

habitats are based upon the temperature

habitats are based upon the temperature conditions that are there so they can go

conditions that are there so they can go

conditions that are there so they can go a little bit more northward and they can

a little bit more northward and they can

a little bit more northward and they can be more so that time frame between egg

be more so that time frame between egg

be more so that time frame between egg and adult gets shorter when the

and adult gets shorter when the

and adult gets shorter when the temperatures are higher and that means

temperatures are higher and that means

temperatures are higher and that means those cycles of mosquito development can

those cycles of mosquito development can

those cycles of mosquito development can go faster and faster leading to more

go faster and faster leading to more

go faster and faster leading to more mosquitoes in the environment and it’s

mosquitoes in the environment and it’s

mosquitoes in the environment and it’s not just the mosquito it’s the virus too

not just the mosquito it’s the virus too

not just the mosquito it’s the virus too so you may think that if you came home

so you may think that if you came home

so you may think that if you came home sick from Brazil and you were sitting on

sick from Brazil and you were sitting on

sick from Brazil and you were sitting on your patio trying to recover and a

your patio trying to recover and a

your patio trying to recover and a mosquito bit you and flew across the

mosquito bit you and flew across the

mosquito bit you and flew across the room and bit your daughter that they

room and bit your daughter that they

room and bit your daughter that they might get infected but that’s not how it

might get infected but that’s not how it

might get infected but that’s not how it works

works

works a mosquito gets the virus and it has to

a mosquito gets the virus and it has to

a mosquito gets the virus and it has to go through a development stage within

go through a development stage within

go through a development stage within the mosquito before it can transmit to

the mosquito before it can transmit to

the mosquito before it can transmit to the next person and guess what that time

the next person and guess what that time

the next person and guess what that time that it takes for that virus to develop

that it takes for that virus to develop

that it takes for that virus to develop gets shorter as temperatures get warmer

gets shorter as temperatures get warmer

gets shorter as temperatures get warmer exactly so it’s not just increasing

exactly so it’s not just increasing

exactly so it’s not just increasing temperatures that’s going to go along

temperatures that’s going to go along

temperatures that’s going to go along with climate change it’s changes in our

with climate change it’s changes in our

with climate change it’s changes in our weather patterns increasing extreme

weather patterns increasing extreme

weather patterns increasing extreme weather events that means hurricanes

weather events that means hurricanes

weather events that means hurricanes like Hurricane Katrina depicted here

like Hurricane Katrina depicted here

like Hurricane Katrina depicted here that means more droughts and it also

that means more droughts and it also

that means more droughts and it also means more severe cold weather like

means more severe cold weather like

means more severe cold weather like they’re experiencing on the East Coast

they’re experiencing on the East Coast

they’re experiencing on the East Coast cold weather does not mean

cold weather does not mean

cold weather does not mean it changes in happening I think it’s

it changes in happening I think it’s

it changes in happening I think it’s really time that we stop asking people

really time that we stop asking people

really time that we stop asking people do you believe in climate change and

do you believe in climate change and

do you believe in climate change and start asking them do you understand it

so these extreme weather events are

so these extreme weather events are going to do a couple of things first

going to do a couple of things first

going to do a couple of things first they’re gonna make people miserable but

they’re gonna make people miserable but

they’re gonna make people miserable but second they can destroy the

second they can destroy the

second they can destroy the infrastructure they can make it harder

infrastructure they can make it harder

infrastructure they can make it harder to get resources to people who need it

to get resources to people who need it

to get resources to people who need it they cost a lot of money and the last

they cost a lot of money and the last

they cost a lot of money and the last thing you need after a devastating

thing you need after a devastating

thing you need after a devastating hurricane or other event is for another

hurricane or other event is for another

hurricane or other event is for another disaster to occur a pandemic now the

disaster to occur a pandemic now the

disaster to occur a pandemic now the evidence is sort of equivocal as to

evidence is sort of equivocal as to

evidence is sort of equivocal as to whether or not

whether or not

whether or not hurricanes directly lead to increase

hurricanes directly lead to increase

hurricanes directly lead to increase mosquito-borne diseases however when you

mosquito-borne diseases however when you

mosquito-borne diseases however when you damage infrastructure that can take a

damage infrastructure that can take a

damage infrastructure that can take a long time to rebuild and that damaged

long time to rebuild and that damaged

long time to rebuild and that damaged infrastructure can lead to more

infrastructure can lead to more

infrastructure can lead to more vulnerability for people so one of the

vulnerability for people so one of the

vulnerability for people so one of the things that I think isn’t really

things that I think isn’t really

things that I think isn’t really important is to share information for

important is to share information for

important is to share information for people to know what’s happening in their

people to know what’s happening in their

people to know what’s happening in their community and how to prevent disease

community and how to prevent disease

community and how to prevent disease spread knowledge equals power so how do

spread knowledge equals power so how do

spread knowledge equals power so how do we get that knowledge traditionally well

we get that knowledge traditionally well

we get that knowledge traditionally well traditionally is you come home from

traditionally is you come home from

traditionally is you come home from Brazil maybe you have dengue and you’re

Brazil maybe you have dengue and you’re

Brazil maybe you have dengue and you’re feeling kind of sick some people may

feeling kind of sick some people may

feeling kind of sick some people may just stay at home they might write it

just stay at home they might write it

just stay at home they might write it out at home and never see a medical

out at home and never see a medical

out at home and never see a medical professional some people will go to the

professional some people will go to the

professional some people will go to the doctor and when they go to the doctor

doctor and when they go to the doctor

doctor and when they go to the doctor they talk to the doctor tell them their

they talk to the doctor tell them their

they talk to the doctor tell them their symptoms and maybe the doctor recognizes

symptoms and maybe the doctor recognizes

symptoms and maybe the doctor recognizes that this might be dengue or chikungunya

that this might be dengue or chikungunya

that this might be dengue or chikungunya or Zika and they go ahead and they get

or Zika and they go ahead and they get

or Zika and they go ahead and they get them a lab test and it gets tested in

them a lab test and it gets tested in

them a lab test and it gets tested in the lab and those results get conveyed

the lab and those results get conveyed

the lab and those results get conveyed to somebody at the Health Department

to somebody at the Health Department

to somebody at the Health Department they process the data and it goes out to

they process the data and it goes out to

they process the data and it goes out to the community that takes a long time it

the community that takes a long time it

the community that takes a long time it can take a long time because the Health

can take a long time because the Health

can take a long time because the Health Department isn’t going to publish or

Department isn’t going to publish or

Department isn’t going to publish or make information available on those

make information available on those

make information available on those cases that are suspect they want to be

cases that are suspect they want to be

cases that are suspect they want to be sure that there’s something going on so

sure that there’s something going on so

sure that there’s something going on so that means there’s delays and it’s a tip

that means there’s delays and it’s a tip

that means there’s delays and it’s a tip of an iceberg

of an iceberg

of an iceberg because you can see people are getting

because you can see people are getting

because you can see people are getting lost along this process right because

lost along this process right because

lost along this process right because somebody may just stay home somebody may

somebody may just stay home somebody may

somebody may just stay home somebody may go to a doctor who doesn’t know that

go to a doctor who doesn’t know that

go to a doctor who doesn’t know that dengue could be a possibility so I’ve

dengue could be a possibility so I’ve

dengue could be a possibility so I’ve been working with public health

been working with public health

been working with public health researchers because this is a really

researchers because this is a really

researchers because this is a really well established fact in the public

well established fact in the public

well established fact in the public health community and we’ve been trying

health community and we’ve been trying

health community and we’ve been trying to figure out another way to get

to figure out another way to get

to figure out another way to get information to people and so we cut out

information to people and so we cut out

information to people and so we cut out the doctors the lab and even the Health

the doctors the lab and even the Health

the doctors the lab and even the Health Department and we’re asking people to

Department and we’re asking people to

Department and we’re asking people to tell each other directly what’s

tell each other directly what’s

tell each other directly what’s happening in their community to tell us

happening in their community to tell us

happening in their community to tell us are you sick are you feeling poorly is

are you sick are you feeling poorly is

are you sick are you feeling poorly is there something going on now that

there something going on now that

there something going on now that information in and of itself it’s a

information in and of itself it’s a

information in and of itself it’s a little suspect right because people

little suspect right because people

little suspect right because people could have lots of things if they have a

could have lots of things if they have a

could have lots of things if they have a fever but if you see 10 12 15 people in

fever but if you see 10 12 15 people in

fever but if you see 10 12 15 people in an area that have this condition that’s

an area that have this condition that’s

an area that have this condition that’s gonna peak public health that’s gonna

gonna peak public health that’s gonna

gonna peak public health that’s gonna have them say okay let’s investigate

have them say okay let’s investigate

have them say okay let’s investigate let’s see what’s going on and it gives

let’s see what’s going on and it gives

let’s see what’s going on and it gives you direct information at an early time

you direct information at an early time

you direct information at an early time so that you might be able to take action

so that you might be able to take action

so that you might be able to take action and in this we have developed an

and in this we have developed an

and in this we have developed an application called Katanga it’s kind of

application called Katanga it’s kind of

application called Katanga it’s kind of a funny word but it’s actually a swahili

a funny word but it’s actually a swahili

a funny word but it’s actually a swahili word for chikungunya and in this

word for chikungunya and in this

word for chikungunya and in this application we give you both user

application we give you both user

application we give you both user generated data so you can see what’s

generated data so you can see what’s

generated data so you can see what’s happening in and around your zip code

happening in and around your zip code

happening in and around your zip code are there people who are sick what do

are there people who are sick what do

are there people who are sick what do they have from a syndromic standpoint

they have from a syndromic standpoint

they have from a syndromic standpoint right not dengue specifically but

right not dengue specifically but

right not dengue specifically but something that might look like dengue

something that might look like dengue

something that might look like dengue and then we also give you coupled with

and then we also give you coupled with

and then we also give you coupled with that the more certain information the

that the more certain information the

that the more certain information the information that’s coming from the

information that’s coming from the

information that’s coming from the health department’s that tells you yes

health department’s that tells you yes

health department’s that tells you yes there is a case of dengue there but we

there is a case of dengue there but we

there is a case of dengue there but we don’t just tell you what’s happening in

don’t just tell you what’s happening in

don’t just tell you what’s happening in the community we tell you what can you

the community we tell you what can you

the community we tell you what can you do to stop it we feel that giving people

do to stop it we feel that giving people

do to stop it we feel that giving people back information gives them that ability

back information gives them that ability

back information gives them that ability to take action and do something for

to take action and do something for

to take action and do something for themselves to protect themselves to

themselves to protect themselves to

themselves to protect themselves to protect their family members and so we

protect their family members and so we

protect their family members and so we tell you a lot of things about

tell you a lot of things about

tell you a lot of things about mosquitoes do you know where

mosquitoes do you know where

mosquitoes do you know where all the places are in your home and in

all the places are in your home and in

all the places are in your home and in your yard where a mosquito can lay its

your yard where a mosquito can lay its

your yard where a mosquito can lay its eggs and breed did you know that a

eggs and breed did you know that a

eggs and breed did you know that a mosquito if you go away for three or

mosquito if you go away for three or

mosquito if you go away for three or four weeks could lay its eggs in your

four weeks could lay its eggs in your

four weeks could lay its eggs in your toilet that’s not a very nice surprise

toilet that’s not a very nice surprise

toilet that’s not a very nice surprise to come home to a bite like that nobody

to come home to a bite like that nobody

to come home to a bite like that nobody really wants that to happen

another really critical piece of

another really critical piece of information that I found in a survey

information that I found in a survey

information that I found in a survey that we did with Arizona residents that

that we did with Arizona residents that

that we did with Arizona residents that people really didn’t know is that Zika

people really didn’t know is that Zika

people really didn’t know is that Zika is also sexually transmitted the first

is also sexually transmitted the first

is also sexually transmitted the first mosquito-borne disease to also be

mosquito-borne disease to also be

mosquito-borne disease to also be transmitted through that route really

transmitted through that route really

transmitted through that route really important information for pregnant women

important information for pregnant women

important information for pregnant women and wanting those that are wanting to

and wanting those that are wanting to

and wanting those that are wanting to become pregnant so we share all of this

become pregnant so we share all of this

become pregnant so we share all of this information to empower people to act and

information to empower people to act and

information to empower people to act and we were really excited because we

we were really excited because we

we were really excited because we launched this right after the Zika

launched this right after the Zika

launched this right after the Zika pandemic kind of hit the United States

pandemic kind of hit the United States

pandemic kind of hit the United States and people were interested people

and people were interested people

and people were interested people downloaded it people used it we were

downloaded it people used it we were

downloaded it people used it we were really excited and then guess what

really excited and then guess what

really excited and then guess what happened the zika pandemic faded from

happened the zika pandemic faded from

happened the zika pandemic faded from the news cycle and so i was kind of

the news cycle and so i was kind of

the news cycle and so i was kind of devastated we’d spent all of this time

devastated we’d spent all of this time

devastated we’d spent all of this time and energy working on this system and

and energy working on this system and

and energy working on this system and i’m like oh man have we failed have we

i’m like oh man have we failed have we

i’m like oh man have we failed have we flopped so then we did another survey

flopped so then we did another survey

flopped so then we did another survey here in arizona and we were asking

here in arizona and we were asking

here in arizona and we were asking people when would she be more likely to

people when would she be more likely to

people when would she be more likely to actually take action to prevent

actually take action to prevent

actually take action to prevent mosquito-borne disease and mosquito

mosquito-borne disease and mosquito

mosquito-borne disease and mosquito bites and they gave me a very revealing

bites and they gave me a very revealing

bites and they gave me a very revealing answer they said well i’m more likely to

answer they said well i’m more likely to

answer they said well i’m more likely to do it when it’s more likely to affect me

do it when it’s more likely to affect me

do it when it’s more likely to affect me you can see here that as you get closer

you can see here that as you get closer

you can see here that as you get closer and closer to where people live they are

and closer to where people live they are

and closer to where people live they are much more likely to say i’m gonna take

much more likely to say i’m gonna take

much more likely to say i’m gonna take action so we want to leverage that we’re

action so we want to leverage that we’re

action so we want to leverage that we’re going back to the drawing board we’re

going back to the drawing board we’re

going back to the drawing board we’re working with communities we’re working

working with communities we’re working

working with communities we’re working with public health partners and we’re

with public health partners and we’re

with public health partners and we’re trying to identify those critical time

trying to identify those critical time

trying to identify those critical time points when people really need to give

points when people really need to give

points when people really need to give us their input when we really need you

us their input when we really need you

us their input when we really need you to tell us if you’re home and you’re

to tell us if you’re home and you’re

to tell us if you’re home and you’re sick when you really need that

sick when you really need that

sick when you really need that critical health information that tells

critical health information that tells

critical health information that tells you when you need to take action in your

you when you need to take action in your

you when you need to take action in your home and your community so we may be

home and your community so we may be

home and your community so we may be approaching some of you and asking you

approaching some of you and asking you

approaching some of you and asking you what do you want us to tell you do you

what do you want us to tell you do you

what do you want us to tell you do you want us to tell you when mosquitoes are

want us to tell you when mosquitoes are

want us to tell you when mosquitoes are high when there’s a disease that’s

high when there’s a disease that’s

high when there’s a disease that’s potentially transmitted by mosquitoes

potentially transmitted by mosquitoes

potentially transmitted by mosquitoes just down your street or in your zip

just down your street or in your zip

just down your street or in your zip code we’re gonna find that out and when

code we’re gonna find that out and when

code we’re gonna find that out and when we do we’re going to be able to alert

we do we’re going to be able to alert

we do we’re going to be able to alert you so if you have Kidane go on your

you so if you have Kidane go on your

you so if you have Kidane go on your phone you might just get a little buzz

phone you might just get a little buzz

phone you might just get a little buzz and it’ll say hi alert please take

and it’ll say hi alert please take

and it’ll say hi alert please take precaution and start telling us if

precaution and start telling us if

precaution and start telling us if you’re ill and when that happens when

you’re ill and when that happens when

you’re ill and when that happens when you’re going outside to enjoy that

you’re going outside to enjoy that

you’re going outside to enjoy that beautiful evening you might pick up your

beautiful evening you might pick up your

beautiful evening you might pick up your glass in one hand and a can of mosquito

glass in one hand and a can of mosquito

glass in one hand and a can of mosquito repellent in the other thank you

”

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