RMSF Rodeo Project Offers Hope
Posted: Tuesday, Aug 21st, 2012
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Dr. Jennifer McQuiston from the CDC and Anita Brock, manager of the Tribe’s Epidemiology Program, presented findings from the RMSF Rodeo Project and the preliminary results which indicated that the four-month long project and effort has been tremendously successful.
The Rodeo Project, which received Council approval in February 2012 and began in April, was a multi-agency approach targeting the reduction of the brown dog tick population specifically in the Peridot Heights area, which included Peridot Siding, Hollywood Ridge, Moonbase, Hallelujah Square, and La Bamba. Project activities consisted of consistent monthly pesticide sprayings of homes from May to August, a month-long spay/neuter clinic in June, registering dogs with a license, and placing the Seresto collar on all community dogs.
Bayer Pharmaceuticals is the maker of these special Seresto collars that have up to an eight-month tick killing ingredient and began working immediately. The combination of these activities significantly contributed to the success of this Project.
Project data shows that during the course of the four months of the Project, the number of ticks on dogs was significantly reduced. At the start of the project in April, around half of the 590 dogs registered had ticks. By August, almost 90-percent of dogs in the project area were tick-free.
Putting a tick collar on dogs, specifically the 8-month Bayer Seresto Tick Collar, and spraying homes four times per year has a clearly had a significant effect in reducing the number of ticks found around homes and on dogs in Peridot Heights. Dr. McQuiston said, “The results of the Project have been phenomenal, offering us hope that the Tribe can be successful in eliminating ticks and Rocky Mountain spotted fever reservation-wide.”
Plans for expansion are being discussed for a reservation-wide campaign in 2013. The Health Department will begin in March 2013 with a two-week spay and neuter clinic while simultaneously working with tribal employees and volunteers to work systematically from district-to-district tick collaring and registering all tribal dogs. The spray efforts will commence in mid-April, when each home on the reservation will be sprayed with pesticides four times throughout the year.
According to Dr. McQuiston, “One of the reasons the RMSF Rodeo project worked so well is that the entire community came together to get the tick problem under control.”
“Over 95-percent of homes participated. This level of participation will be very important for the program to work reservation-wide – EVERY dog must have a collar, and the majority of homes must be sprayed, in order for this effort to work. Even families that don’t have dogs should participate. Working together, San Carlos has a real chance to eliminate RMSF and ticks.”
Chairman Rambler expressed his appreciation and presented ‘friendship’ baskets to members of the CDC, Bayer Corporation and the state health department or partnering with the Tribe in a collaborative effort to address the RMSF challenge.
According to Chairman Rambler, “The loss of lives to RMSF has devastated our community and there is a great sense of urgency to work together to eliminate RMSF. I appreciate the support we have received from the CDC, Bayer Corporation and state health department by working with our Tribal Health department and IHS to seriously address this issue, thank you.”
The Tribe’s Health Department encourages each home owner to be part of the RMSF campaign. It is important to support your community and thoroughly treat your homes as the warmer months’ progress. The same pesticide products that were used in the project will be available at local tribal stores in Peridot, Bylas and at the Casino.
Together, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can be eliminated and the Tribe will never again lose another child. As Bylas Council member Jonathan Kitcheyan stated “....one lost life to RMSF is simply too much.”
