Title of Nomination: Pennsylvania West Nile Virus Surveillance Program Project/System Manager: Eric Conrad Title: Deputy Secretary Agency: PA

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1 Title of Nomination: Pennsylvania West Nile Virus Surveillance Program Project/System Manager: Eric Conrad Title: Deputy Secretary Agency: PA Department of Environmental Protection Department: PA Department of Environmental Protection Address: Rachel Carson State Office Building - City: Harrisburg State: PA Zip: Phone: Fax: econrad@state.pa.us CATEGORY: Innovative_Use_of_Technology Person Nominating (if different): Robert Bunty Title: IT Policy Consultant Address: 209 Finance Building City: Harrisburg State: PA Zip: Phone: Fax: rbunty@state.pa.us

2 Application for NASCIO Recognition Award Category: Innovative Use of Technology The Pennsylvania West Nile Virus Surveillance Program (WNVSP) A. Description of project, including length of time in operation. In 1999, an outbreak of West Nile Virus (WNV), or encephalitis, a potentially deadly disease transmitted by mosquitoes to birds, horses and humans, occurred in New York City and New Jersey. The outbreak resulted in the loss of several lives, and demonstrated how rapidly emerging infectious pathogens could be transmitted. At the request of former Governor Tom Ridge, key Pennsylvania state agencies including, the departments of Health, Environmental Protection, Agriculture, Emergency Management, Education, and Conservation and Natural Resources, immediately joined forces to establish a virus early warning and control system. What emerged was the Pennsylvania West Nile Virus Surveillance Program (WNVSP), a web-based, multi-agency, integrated system that has enabled Pennsylvania to respond with a cost-effective control strategy based upon mosquito biology and identification of actual WNV outbreaks. The core of this first-of-its kind in the nation initiative is a geographic information systems (GIS) database. Field staff, using handheld computers and Global Positioning System (GPS) units, collect and report surveillance samples results to the central database over a secure internet connection using web-based forms and electronic mapping applications. Data is uploaded real-time, providing spontaneous reporting, map generation, and, in turn, decision-making capabilities. Since all data is geographic specific, potential outbreak areas can be quickly identified and delineated. New information is easily integrated into existing data, and made available to state parks, sewage/water treatment plants and other entities, which could have people or animals at risk. Continuous mapping of any interrelated data (i.e, presence of infected mosquitoes, and birds or other sentinels, such as horses) drives operational responses to reduce the risk of virus outbreaks. The process utilizes innovative barcode technology to enhance sample tracking. Each sample collected in the field is labeled with a unique code. When the sample arrives at laboratory facilities for analysis, technicians use scanners to read the code, saving precious time. Every sample collected has a unique electronic history, based upon discovery location and other environmental and case factors.

3 Automatic daily updates are posted to a public website based upon sample results received from laboratories and weekly updates to the Federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provided by the system. The website has received nearly four million hits to date. At present, 500 staff and local officials from participating state agencies, including their regional offices, 114 State parks, all 67 county governments in the Commonwealth, and three public testing laboratories, utilize the system to track samples, share information, issue public notices and plan operational responses. B. Significance to the improvement of the operation of government. Of greatest significance is the timely response at the county and state levels for mosquito control in areas where WNV is identified and found to be a risk to the general public. Other significant achievements include: Formatted Spatial and time sequenced data supplied in the process allow participating agencies to target fieldwork, assess public risk and take appropriate control actions based upon scientific evidence. Unnecessary costs associated with pesticide spraying are avoided because fieldwork shows locations of mosquito production areas, as well as where adult mosquito populations are declining due to weather and climate conditions. Data showing the location of concentrations of birds killed by the virus, as well as locations of infected mosquitoes and horses, allow responding agencies to target resources to provide immediate protection to residents. C. Benefits realized by Service recipients Over the past three years, the West Nile Virus Surveillance Program has been protecting Pennsylvania citizens by tracking the spread of infected mosquitoes. The integrated web-based system offers citizens a greater measure of security and empowerment by providing a consistent framework for informing the public about the status of ongoing efforts to reduce the threat posed by WNV. By visiting citizens learn how to eliminate mosquitobreeding habitats through source reduction in and around their homes, as well as how to report incidence of dead birds. Automatic daily updates on the site serve as an effective, low-cost early warning system. This system s approach ensures delivery of a consistent message, based upon actual data.

4 C. Return on investment, short term/long term payback (include summary calculations). Projects must show measurable operational benefit. Examples of documented operational benefit include: Handheld computers equipped with GIS and GPS reduce field-processing time by percent. Map production time has decreased by 99 percent since program inception due to system design. All incoming data is geocoded to allow for real time map generation. The GIS component is an integral part of the system on the front end, not a add on after data assessment Automatic web updates eliminates staff overtime costs and allows them to work on other higher priority tasks. County and regional staff has advance warning of pending outbreaks and are able to adjust work schedules to reduce overtime costs at the local level. Barcode technology reduces lab data entry costs by 65% at the three testing laboratories. Prior to using the technology sample entry required 7 hours per lab to get all samples loaded into the system, with automation based on the data system and barcoding this was reduced to less then 90 minutes in each of the labs. Detailed field data allowed determinations on which control product was best suited to control mosquito populations. Often, based on numbers of adult versus larval mosquitoes we were able to use larvicides that are significantly less expensive then adult sprays. The open design of the database reduces routine management costs. The system is easily updated if changes are needed. The West Nile Virus Program is funded 100% by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth s taxpayers benefit from a greater sense of security in knowing that systematic monitoring of this potentially deadly virus is ongoing, and that financial resources are focused in the most efficient manner toward that end. Previous vector (carrier) control activities were based upon a sometimesineffective regimen of pesticide application. Under WNVP, a GIS-based approach directs mosquito larvae control actions, significantly reducing control costs and actual risk to the public. Environmental groups are appreciative of the fact that widespread application of pesticides can be avoided. At the same time, citizens with acute sensitivity to pesticides benefit from reduced exposure to products used to control mosquitoes. The system ensures

5 that alerts are made to these individuals well in advance of actual control activities. The Pennsylvania WNV model is highly replicable, and has served as a model for similar systems built in New York City and New Jersey. At least a dozen other states have inquired about its design, and expressed desire to build or use parts of the technology. Pennsylvania is currently using the same model to develop an emergency response system for Homeland Security. The system will link county governments, state agencies and eventually federal agencies for tracking traditional emergencies, as well as incidents involving Weapons of Mass Destruction associated with chemical, biological or radiological terrorism. The use of the WNV system shows significant promise for the national, state, and local governments, the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and the private sector. An integrated tracking system would enhance a nation's ability to respond to any threat, whether natural or intentional. Research is ongoing to build links with environmental data and modeling to establish cause and effect between health and the environment. However, the ultimate return on investment cannot be measure in dollars and cents, for the true value of WNVSP rests in the enhanced health and well being of the elderly, very young children, and those with compromised immune systems, who are most susceptible to contracting WNV. The surveillance program ensures that prompt, timely and accurate messages concerning outbreaks are transmitted, and control actions are targeted towards the outbreak.

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Edward G. Rendell, Governor Dennis C Wolff, Secretary

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Edward G. Rendell, Governor Dennis C Wolff, Secretary Background Information est Nile Virus (WNV) was first W found in the United States in 1999. The virus was previously