Communication toolkit on chikungunya: How to prevent and control chikungunyaArchived
Following an outbreak of chikungunya in the area of Ravenna, Italy in Summer 2007 and the increasing presence of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in Europe, ECDC has prepared a Chikungunya Communications Toolkit. It provides template materials containing background information and practical advice on chikungunya prevention and control and is targeting the general public, travellers and health practitioners.
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The template materials are targeted at three key audiences: the general public in affected areas, visitors travelling to affected areas and health practitioners. Communicators in the Member States can adapt these materials, which include factsheets, brochures, posters and presentations, for use at national level.
For further information and to send us a feedback on the chikungunya toolkit, please contact info@ecdc.europa.eu.
Materials
The materials provide various vehicles for communicating the key messages. The multiple tools are designed to ensure that the targeted audiences not only have access to the degree of information they may require, but also in recognition that only by repeated delivery are the messages registered.
Factsheets
The factsheets included in this toolkit provide concise key information. As such, there is more information in factsheets than for example in the poster and they will require greater attention from their intended audiences. For Member States where the vector is present, please refer to the factsheet for the general public in areas where the vector is present and the factsheet for health practitioners. For Member States where the vector is not present, please refer to the factsheet for travellers and the factsheet for health practitioners.
Factsheet for travellers
The factsheet for travellers allows for all European travellers to prepare ahead of journeys into Chikungunya risk zones in Europe or elsewhere. The factsheet is presented in a manner that highlights the key messages in a clear and concise way. It provides information relevant to epidemiology, prevention, symptoms and advice on what travellers should do if they suspect to have contracted the virus while travelling.
Factsheet for the general public in areas where the vector is present
The factsheet for the general public in areas where the vector is present provides information aimed at limiting the vector’s presence in the area and, as a result, limiting the risk of spreading Chikungunya virus. The factsheet is presented in a clear and concise manner which highlights the key messages and allows for the general public to be able to easily identify how to reduce the risk of contracting Chikungunya virus around their homes. The same messages are presented in the PowerPoint slide deck for the general public where the vector is present and can be used together or separately.
Factsheet for health practitioners
The factsheet for health practitioners provides more detailed medical information than the previous two factsheets. This factsheet is aimed at use in both Member States where the vector is present as well as where it is not present. The information contains the key messages related to diagnosing and treating patients who present with the Chikungunya symptoms - within risk zones or as imported cases. The same messages are presented in the PowerPoint slide deck for healthcare professionals and can be used together with this or separately. Furthermore, the factsheet can also be used as a follow up to the interviews that may be held based on the questionnaire.
Presentations
The presentations included in this toolkit provide the same information as is presented in the factsheets. The aim of the presentations is to be able to provide a more visual briefing to the audience and provide an more interactive environment. It is recommended that the presenter is fully briefed on all the key issues beforehand and that the slide decks are presented to small-medium sized groups to enable an informative discussion between the participants.
PowerPoint Presentation for the general public in areas where the vector is present
The presentation for the general public in areas where the vector is present provides information aimed at limiting the vector presence in the area and, as a result, limiting the risk of spreading Chikungunya virus. The slides allow for the general public to be able to easily identify how to reduce the risk of contracting Chikungunya virus in their communities and around their homes as the messages are illustrated in a visual and concise manner. The same messages are presented in the factsheet for the general public where the vector is present and can be used together with this or separately
PowerPoint Presentation for health practitioners
The presentation for health practitioners provides more detailed medical information than the previous presentation. The information contains similar key messages to the factsheet but in a more visual way. The information outlines the diagnosis and treatment of patients who present with the Chikungunya symptoms. Like the factsheet, this presentation is aimed at both Member States where the vector is present and where it is not present. The slides containing advice on vector control in areas where the vector is present may be included or deleted as appropriate before presenting
Poster
This toolkit includes a prototype A2 sheet which can be used as a poster (displayed/hung). As the poster is intended to be hung on walls or displayed in windows in public spaces and airports, it presents the basic facts on Chikungunya and prevention of mosquito bites in a way so that it can be read and understood quickly. The poster design is consistent with the other campaign materials. More detailed information is available for travellers through the factsheet for travellers.
Brochure for the general public
The four page A5-size brochure provides similar messages as the factsheet for the general public, but in the brochure the information is formatted so as to highlight the key messages, with emphasis on the actions to be taken by the reade
Questionnaire for assessment of health professionals prior knowledge of Chikungunya
The questionnaire is targeted for use by national authorities during interviews to health practitioners in order to assess their knowledge on Chikungunya in general and specifically on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The interviews based on the questionnaire can be carried out over the telephone or in face-to-face meetings and will also provide an opportunity to establish if the health practitioner would be interested in receiving more materials from the Chikungunya communication toolkit.
