Shannan N Rich, Ann Carpenter, Bree Dell, Rachel Henderson, Sydney Adams, Nicolette Bestul, Christopher Grano, Briana Sprague, Josh Leopold, Elizabeth K Schiffman, Andrea Lomeli, Hassan Zadeh, Jemma Alarcón, Umme-Aiman Halai, Yoon-Sung Nam, Leah Seifu, Sally Slavinski, David Crum, Emily Mosites, Johanna S Salzer, Alison F Hinckley, David W McCormick, Grace E Marx
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Louse-borne Bartonella quintana infection and flea-borne murine typhus are two potentially serious vector-borne diseases that have led to periodic outbreaks among people experiencing homelessness in the United States. Little is known about louse- and flea-borne disease awareness and prevention among staff who provide services to the population. We surveyed staff in seven US states to identify gaps in knowledge and prevention practices for these diseases. METHODS AND RESULTS: Surveys were administered to 333 staff at 89 homeless shelters and outreach teams in California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, New York and Washington from August 2022 to April 2023...
March 21, 2024: Zoonoses and Public Health