Community
The Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease and its faculty are involved in a number of community-based, public health programs and activities. We highlight a few of these programs below and their target populations and services.
Stanford Flu Crew
The Stanford Flu Crew provides influenza education and no-cost vaccinations to people throughout the community in an effort to reduce the burden of influenza and improve public health. The Flu Crew is staffed by University medical students under the supervision of medical school faculty, including members of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Division. Flu Crew volunteers have brought their services to local farms, churches, public libraries, homeless shelters, women’s shelters and free clinics. Since its founding in 2001, it is estimated Flu Crew volunteers have given 30,000 free vaccines in six counties across Northern California.
County and State Public Health Departments
Division physicians and staff work in close partnership with public health officials at both the county and state level in the tracking, treatment and survelliance of infectious diseases cases. Division faculty also have collaborated with health officials on studies, including one with the California Department of Public Health in which 10 years worth of statewide data was collected on coccidioidomycosis (aka Valley Fever) in order to study the epidemilogy, natural history, treatment and outcomes of the disease (http://journals.lww.com/pidj/Abstract/2016/02000/Epidemiology_of_Pediatric_Coccidioidomycosis_in.9.aspx).
San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District
The San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District conducts vector-borne disease surveillance and integrated pest management of vectors throughout San Mateo County. District Laboratory personnel collaborate with Division members to test mosquito samples collected internationally for diseases such as chikungunya and dengue fever. While these diseases are not currently transmitted in San Mateo County, a mosquito that has the potential to transmit them – invasive Aedes aegypti – has been detected in the County since 2014, and travel-acquired cases of chikungunya and dengue are common. The District’s collaboration with the Division helps the County prepare for the possibility of local transmission in the future. For more information, please see http://www.smcmvcd.org/collaboration-stanford-division-pediatric-infectious-diseases.