National Health Outreach and Engagement Conference 2024

Authors: Kait Chapman, Jody Green, Louise Lynch-O'Brien
Biting pests are indiscriminate and come with variety of health risks. Head lice and bed bug bites may cause itching, scratching, and negative psychological impacts. Ticks are prominent vectors of several illnesses, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and red meat allergy. Managing issues surrounding bed bugs, head lice, and ticks requires community-wide education. Engaging target audiences about uncomfortable and often stigmatizing topics, however, comes with its own unique challenges. Such challenges require creative solutions - from community science initiatives, mannequins as learning tools, kits, identification cards, children’s activities, to one giant stuffed tick, bringing about behavior change involves interaction and destigmatization.