Epidemiologist Washington State DOH, Washington, United States
Abstract: Arboviral diseases and outbreaks are sporadically reported in Washington State (WA), making outbreak prediction difficult and vector surveillance data crucial for informing public health intervention. VectorSurv plays an integral role in endemic arboviral disease monitoring in WA.
Across the state, mosquito trapping and testing is conducted by dozens of entities, including mosquito control, military, academic, and local health partners, with diverse data storage systems and protocols. Historically, we relied on repeating manual steps for statewide data compilation, including manual data entry, collection, cleaning, standardization, and validation. Data was stored in spreadsheets inefficient for analysis, visualization, and reporting. This was prone to human error, undermining data quality, and was time-consuming, delaying data sharing and analyses.
During 2019-2022, WADOH transitioned to VectorSurv using a WA implementation, called WASurv, for data management, analysis, and reporting. This eliminated or reduced data compilation steps, minimizing errors and improving data comparability across agencies, locations, and time. Partners now communicate surveillance and pathogen testing details through WASurv, granting WADOH access to standardized, compiled data as it is entered, and enabling data to be used in near real-time. We use the VectorSurv API with automated R scripts and vectorsurvR package functions to pull data from WASurv for an internal dynamic dashboard that tracks vector and endemic arbovirus activity, and a Python script pulls data for a public map. We are currently developing a WA-specific West Nile Virus (WNV) risk index calculator using vectorsurvR, where each risk index corresponds to different levels of public health response. Additionally, WADOH uses WASurv to generate reports and fulfill reporting responsibilities.
VectorSurv has transformed the timeliness, efficiency, and accuracy with which WADOH collects, stores, and uses mosquito surveillance data. Using VectorSurv and its tools, we have been able to incorporate mosquito surveillance data into real-time analyses to inform timely public health action.
