A Hawaii public education programme for rat lungworm disease prevention

Education is essential for lowering cases of Angiostrongyliasis in Hawaii. A professional development course on rat lungworm disease (RLWD) prevention was offered to Hawaii K-12 teachers during the 2018-2019 school year. Fourteen teachers, 11 from Hawaii Island and three from Maui, representing grades K, 2, 6-8, and 10-12, completed workshops and activities and received course credit. Teachers reached 652 students and educated 86 teachers and staff and approximately 900 community members including parents. A pre-course survey showed 55% of teachers agreed to a basic understanding of rat lungworm and its impact on Hawaii; this increased to 100% post-course. A sixth-grade class was the first to document the arrival of a highly competent intermediate host of the rat lungworm in a new location, an important discovery that initiated community awareness and control efforts. Six, 1-day workshops were held in 2018-2019, each on one of the main Hawaiian Islands. These were attended by 106 participants including teachers, community educators, and interested individuals from agencies, non-profits, businesses and the private sector. Of participants surveyed, 100% responded the workshop improved their overall understanding of RLWD. Efforts are being made to continue these programmes.