GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida IFAS Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources received a $200,000 grant to help others teach the public about mosquito safety.

The UF/IFAS PIE Center, as part of a Florida Department of Health grant, created the Prevent and Protect web page and related materials to help local officials communicate to residents of Florida’s cities and counties about the importance of mosquito control efforts and how residents can help reduce mosquito populations. The PIE Center will conduct a live webinar to provide an overview of the toolkit and to discuss the importance of mosquito control. The webinar is scheduled for Monday, July 9 from 2 to 3 p.m.

The content in the toolkit was created with research from focus groups, a panel of experts and academic publications to effectively communicate to Floridians so they better understand mosquito control. Toolkit Items include:

Social media schedule: Four weeks of content for Facebook and Twitter.

• Customizable social media messages: Carefully crafted content, including text posts and graphics, can be used on social media to initiate conversations about personal responsibility, mosquito-borne illnesses, nuisance mosquitoes and mosquitoes’ impact on Florida’s economy, and mosquito control application methods, which could lead to an increased awareness of mosquito control. Each post is customizable; you can add a logo/graphic or a link to your city or county’s mosquito control Facebook or web page.
• Customizable Infographics: Two full-page infographics were created to educate various stakeholders about aerial treatment and how residents can prevent mosquitoes at their home. These infographics are also provided in a 3.5X8.5-inch layout, often referred to as a rack card, designed for use as a flier or handout.
• Customizable informational handouts: Information sheets were also created to detail the impact of mosquitoes on Florida’s economy and tourism, AND the impact of mosquito control on honey bees. Each item can be customized by placing your county’s logo in the recommended section.

In addition to the Prevent & Protect toolkit, the PIE Center has developed a toolkit for mosquito control management during an emergency response –after a natural disaster, like a hurricane, or during a mosquito-borne disease outbreak, like Zika. Contact the PIE Center or attend one of the webinars if you’d like to learn more about the emergency response toolkit.

Prevent & Protect toolkit materials can be found at piecenter.com/mosquito. For more information, contact PIE Center Director Ricky Telg at 352-273-2094 or rwtelg@ufl.edu or PIE Center Public Relations Specialist Ashley McLeod at 352-273-0796 or ashleynmcleod@ufl.edu.

-30-

The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS works to bring science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. Visit the UF/IFAS web site at ifas.ufl.edu and follow us on social media at @UF_IFAS.

0