New Jersey’s Zika Response Communications

Tom Slater, CCPH

Health Risk Communications Manager

Suzanne Miro, MPH, MCHES

Sr. Health Communication Specialist

Nicole Mulvaney

Health Communications Manager

Bob Considine

Press Director

Department of Environmental Protection

RISK COMMUNICATIONS

Tom Slater, CCPH

Health Risk Communications Manager

Communication Plan

Goal: All communities that could be impacted

understand risks associated with Zika and steps

they can take to protect themselves.

Based on CDC guidelines

Developed through phases

Incorporated risk communications strategies

Integrated social media and traditional methods

Risk Communication Strategies

Understand risk perceptions

and outrage

Exotic versus familiar

Unfairly distributed versus

fairly distributed

Consistent messaging

Information sharing

PUBLIC & PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

Suzanne Miro, MPH, MCHES

Sr. Health Communication Specialist

Professional Education

Information sharing calls for key stakeholders

Community outreach agencies

General clinician calls

Federally Qualified Health Centers

Elected officials

Public health officials

Speaking engagements

Conferences, grand rounds, professional meetings, etc.

Community Education and Outreach

Community Education Toolkit – PowerPoint

slides, talking points, evaluation, program

report form

Trained health educators

Available in Spanish, Portuguese and Creole

Migrant Farm Worker Outreach

Prevention materials provided to FQHCs

NJDOH Zika Website

General Information (Public)

Education materials – infographics, FAQs,

key messages, narrated slide show, videos

Translations – Spanish, Creole, Portuguese

Technical Information (Clinical Guidance)

NJLINCS messages (lab specimens, testing

criteria, prevention)

US Zika pregnancy registry and

communication toolkit

Zika testing training videos

Links to CDC materials

MEDIA OUTREACH

Nicole Mulvaney

Health Communications Manager

#ZapZika Awareness Campaign

Public events, media interviews

Conference calls

Radio and bus advertisements

Video and infographic creation

Social media

Call line 1-800-962-1253

Social Media #ZapZika

More Resources

nj.gov/health/cd/zika

cdc.gov/zika

twitter.com/NJDeptofHealth

facebook.com/NJDeptofHealth

COMMUNICATIONS IN

MOSQUITO CONTROL

Bob Considine

Press Director

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Organized mosquito control work began in the early

1900s following the discovery that mosquitoes were

directly responsible for disease transmission

Today, control of these pests in New Jersey is

addressed at every level of government, ranging

from seasonal programs at the municipal and

federal levels to year-round programs administered

by county and state agencies.

One such agency is the State Mosquito Control

Commission.

Mosquito Control Commission

Zika Virus Fact Sheet http://www.state.nj.us/dep/mosquito/docs/zika-fact-sheet.pdf

The Response - Registries

Joseph Sweatlock, PhD, DABT

Research Scientist I

Early Identification and Monitoring Program

Special Child Health & Early Intervention Services

Division of Family Health Services

The Response - Registries

U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry

Better understand impact of maternal exposure to Zika virus

Range of effects

Microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects

Other possible links to outcomes

Pregnancy loss

Eye defects

Hearing loss

Impaired growth in infants

Update recommendations

Clinical care

Plan for services for affected families

Improve prevention of Zika infection during pregnancy

The Response - Registries

U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry

Eligibility

Pregnant women with laboratory evidence of Zika virus infection and their periconceptionally, prenatally or perinatally exposed infants

Infants with laboratory evidence of congenital Zika virus infection and their mothers

Data collection

De-identified data provided by NJ Department of Health

Maternal – travel history, symptoms, prenatal diagnoses, pregnancy loss

Neonatal – gestational age, physical exam results, abnormalities

Infant (2, 6, 12 months) – physical, developmental, audiological, and retinal evaluations

More information (CDC): 770-488-7100 Zika Pregnancy Hotline

The Response - Registries

NJ Birth Defects Registry

May identify cases with unknown Zika virus exposure

Mandated by law – established 1928

Children diagnosed with specific birth defects

Mandated reporting through 5 years of age – voluntary to age 21 years

Applied for CDC funding for rapid ascertainment of cases

Data use

Connect families with county-based Case Management Units

Help obtain needed health, social, and financial services, including Early Intervention

Provide de-identified data for national studies and reports

Division of Family Health Services

Provide links to services across the lifespan

Developing Resource Kits for families and providers