CDC Nat’l Framework: Strategy for Vector-Borne Diseases Prevention & Control

First announced at the HHS Tick-Borne Disease Working Group’s (TBDWG) September 22 meeting, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in a Capitol Hill Announcement, presented plans to join with five federal departments and the Environmental Protection Agency in developing the National Public Health Framework for the Prevention and Control of Vector-Borne Diseases in Humans (Framework). The CDC acknowledges that over the past 15 years, the number of vector-borne disease cases has dramatically increased due to expanding vector ranges and the proliferation of emerging pathogens. The Framework will address Americans’ continually increasing risk for contracting vector-borne diseases, which are a growing public health threat that the U.S. has not sufficiently responded to.

National Public Health Framework for the Prevention and Control of Vector-Borne Diseases in Humans (CDC.gov)
Framework Schematic (CDC.gov)

Vision & Mission The vision of the Framework is to achieve “a nation where vector-borne diseases are no longer a threat to human health and well-being” with a mission “to protect people from illness, suffering, and death due to vector-borne diseases” (CDC.gov).  The CDC’s website outlines the following goals of the federal alliance:

  • Better understand when, where, and how people are exposed to and get sick or die from vector-borne diseases
  • Develop, evaluate, and improve tools and guidance for the diagnosis and detection of vector-borne diseases
  • Develop, evaluate, and improve tools and guidance for the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases
  • Develop and assess drugs and treatment strategies for vector-borne diseases
  • Disseminate and support the implementation of effective public health and vector control products, tools, and programs to prevent, detect, diagnose, and respond to vector-borne disease threats – (CDC.gov)

Strategy & Stakeholders The strategy, authorized by the Kay Hagan TICK Act of 2019, establishes priorities and lays a framework for critical vector-borne disease prevention and control activities. However, in their statement, the CDC acknowledges that the federal government cannot tackle the complex challenges presented by vector-borne diseases alone, and therefore outlines a multidisciplinary set of stakeholders including state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments; vector control agencies; healthcare providers; academic and industry partners; policy and decision-makers, including Congress and elected community leaders; public health partners, such as nonprofit organizations and associations of medical, entomological, and vector control professionals; and the public (including patients). Participating Federal Agencies & Departments  Other federal agencies and departments participating in the Framework include Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Department of The Interior (DOI). The CDC’s brochure for the National Public Health Framework for the Prevention and Control of Vector-Borne Diseases in Humans states that, “To protect the nation and save lives, success depends on continued collaboration, support, leadership, and excellence in innovation and program implementation.” Learn More About the Framework  To learn more read the CDC’s brochure, A National Public Health Framework for the Prevention and Control of Vector-Borne Diseases in Humans from the CDC website. Click here to review the National Framework fact sheet from the CDC website.