| dc.description.abstract | Although more than one billion people live at risk of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in areas of Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, the degree to which they burden countries like the United States is currently unclear. Even though many NTDs such as dengue, leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease are not endemic to the United States, the possibility of their emergence is noteworthy, especially in states like Texas, which has high levels of poverty, a large immigrant population, geographic proximity to endemic areas, and a climate amenable to the vectors for these diseases. Despite the health threat that emerging NTDs may pose, little is known about the prevalence of risk factors for NTDs the United States. We tested the Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) method to assess the prevalence of risk factors for NTDs in Brazos County, Texas. Using this method, we collected data on a representative sample of households in Brazos County and surveyed them for risk on the basis of five major factors: demographics, travel history, housing quality, vector contact and prevention behaviors, and pets and animals near the home. We found that, while residents were generally at low risk, imported cases from international travel or visitors still pose a risk to import cases into Bryan-College Station and the surrounding area. | en |
