{"id":40000,"date":"2016-11-17T10:03:35","date_gmt":"2016-11-17T15:03:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/blog\/how-text-messaging-informs-travellers-to-helps-prevent-further-spread-of-zika\/"},"modified":"2024-02-22T10:05:41","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T15:05:41","slug":"how-text-messaging-informs-travellers-to-helps-prevent-further-spread-of-zika","status":"publish","type":"blog_posts","link":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/blog\/how-text-messaging-informs-travellers-to-helps-prevent-further-spread-of-zika\/","title":{"rendered":"How text messaging informs travellers &#038; helps prevent further spread of Zika"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":40001,"template":"","resource_tax_market":[],"resource_tax_dept":[],"resource_tax_type":[164],"resource_tax_region":[],"resource_tax_outcomes":[],"resource_tax_topic":[],"resource_tax_products":[],"resource_tax_solutions":[],"resource_tax_services":[],"class_list":["post-40000","blog_posts","type-blog_posts","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","resource_tax_type-blogs-uk"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How text messaging informs travellers &amp; 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Across the Americas, the mosquito-born virus spread to over 1.5 million people and was linked to over 3,500 birth defects in newborn babies. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the Zika virus spread, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) worked around the clock. From developing tests to diagnose Zika to monitoring and reporting cases worldwide, the CDC has been committed to addressing the outbreak. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And as details relating to Zika continued to evolve, the CDC needed a way to communicate with the public quickly, connecting them to information that would help keep them informed and safe. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe recent Zika outbreak prompted us to think about how we\u2019re communicating with travellers during this time to prevent any further spread of the virus\u201d said Carolina Uribe, Public Health Advisor at the CDC. \u201cWe put ourselves in travellers\u2019 shoes and came up with an idea\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CDC set up an Interactive Text platform with GovDelivery that arms US\u00a0travellers with information on Zika prevention, transmission and recommendations before and after travel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Participants can opt in with their mobile phone by texting one of three designated opt-in words: PLAN, TRIP or HOME. The user is then prompted to indicate what country they are travelling to (also includes all 50 US states). For those who are travelling to a country with a Zika outbreak, they are then provided with awareness and prevention messaging before, during and after travel. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here is how the text conversation with the CDC works:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-18729 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/uk.granicus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image\/jpeg\/Zika-Plan-1.jpg\" alt=\"Zika messaging plan\" width=\"886\" height=\"860\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With over <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.govdelivery.com\/blog\/still-not-using-text-messaging-5-billion-reasons-reconsider\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5 billion mobile phone users around the world<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and at least <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pewinternet.org\/2015\/04\/01\/us-smartphone-use-in-2015\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">97 percent of Americans texting<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at least once a day, connecting with mobile users was the most efficient and impactful way for the CDC to engage with users as they are planning for or travelling to\/from a country with Zika. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSending travellers messaging on prevention &#8211; using mosquito repellent, wearing long sleeves or pants, etc. &#8211; is important for us to send to travellers where they are, which is usually on their phone when travelling\u201d, said Uribe.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So far, <strong>over 4,500 subscribers have signed on to receive updates from the CDC<\/strong> on the Interactive Text platform, and engagement has been sustained at above-normal levels. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWith Interactive Text, we have the ability to send text messages to travellers who have subscribed for Zika-related information, but we\u2019re also in a position where we could communicate on an emergency quickly with subscribers if we needed to\u201d, Carolina explained.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The texting service is also available in Spanish for travellers which is important for the CDC&#8217;s audience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By stepping into their audience\u2019s shoes, the CDC recognised that travellers should be able to receive personalised information of direct relevance to their travels. Text messaging helped them develop a framework for what was absolutely necessary for subscribers to know. The targeted messaging has resulted in high engagement due to the opt-in nature of the platform.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cA disease can get anywhere in the world within 24 hours, so having this first line of connection with travellers to educate them on what they can do to prevent further spreading is really important to us\u201d, said Uribe. \u201cThis is changing the way we connect with our audience, which may be something we look at doing permanently\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Is your organisation interested in adopting a similar approach to government-citizen communications?\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><em style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><strong>For more information about GovDelivery&#8217;s Interactive Text solution, please<a href=\"http:\/\/govdelivery.co.uk\/contact\/\"> get in touch<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","button":""}}]},"posts_slider_group":{"show_section":true,"posts_slider":[{"add_anchor":false,"anchor_name":"","background_color":"green","slider_subhead":"","slider_headline":"Discover More Blogs","slider_text":"","slider_type":"blog_posts","manual_resources":false,"slider_resource_tax":"recent","add_additional_filters":false,"department_filter":false,"market_filter":false,"outcome_filter":false,"product_filter":false,"region_filter":false,"solution_filter":false,"topic_filter":false,"slider_link":{"title":"View All Resources","url":"\/uk\/learning-center\/","target":""},"slider_link_icon":false}]},"centered_layout_builder_clone":{"flexible_page_builder_group":{"flexible_page_builder_fields":[{"acf_fc_layout":"wysiwyg","add_menu_anchor":false,"anchor_menu_text":"","wysiwyg_group":{"show_section":true,"alignment":"left","subhead":"","headline":"","wysiwyg":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In spring 2016, the widespread outbreak of Zika was declared a global public health emergency. Across the Americas, the mosquito-born virus spread to over 1.5 million people and was linked to over 3,500 birth defects in newborn babies. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the Zika virus spread, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) worked around the clock. From developing tests to diagnose Zika to monitoring and reporting cases worldwide, the CDC has been committed to addressing the outbreak. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And as details relating to Zika continued to evolve, the CDC needed a way to communicate with the public quickly, connecting them to information that would help keep them informed and safe. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe recent Zika outbreak prompted us to think about how we\u2019re communicating with travellers during this time to prevent any further spread of the virus\u201d said Carolina Uribe, Public Health Advisor at the CDC. \u201cWe put ourselves in travellers\u2019 shoes and came up with an idea\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The CDC set up an Interactive Text platform with GovDelivery that arms US\u00a0travellers with information on Zika prevention, transmission and recommendations before and after travel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Participants can opt in with their mobile phone by texting one of three designated opt-in words: PLAN, TRIP or HOME. The user is then prompted to indicate what country they are travelling to (also includes all 50 US states). For those who are travelling to a country with a Zika outbreak, they are then provided with awareness and prevention messaging before, during and after travel. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here is how the text conversation with the CDC works:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-18729 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/uk.granicus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image\/jpeg\/Zika-Plan-1.jpg\" alt=\"Zika messaging plan\" width=\"886\" height=\"860\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With over <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.govdelivery.com\/blog\/still-not-using-text-messaging-5-billion-reasons-reconsider\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5 billion mobile phone users around the world<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and at least <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pewinternet.org\/2015\/04\/01\/us-smartphone-use-in-2015\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">97 percent of Americans texting<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at least once a day, connecting with mobile users was the most efficient and impactful way for the CDC to engage with users as they are planning for or travelling to\/from a country with Zika. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSending travellers messaging on prevention &#8211; using mosquito repellent, wearing long sleeves or pants, etc. &#8211; is important for us to send to travellers where they are, which is usually on their phone when travelling\u201d, said Uribe.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So far, <strong>over 4,500 subscribers have signed on to receive updates from the CDC<\/strong> on the Interactive Text platform, and engagement has been sustained at above-normal levels. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWith Interactive Text, we have the ability to send text messages to travellers who have subscribed for Zika-related information, but we\u2019re also in a position where we could communicate on an emergency quickly with subscribers if we needed to\u201d, Carolina explained.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The texting service is also available in Spanish for travellers which is important for the CDC&#8217;s audience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By stepping into their audience\u2019s shoes, the CDC recognised that travellers should be able to receive personalised information of direct relevance to their travels. Text messaging helped them develop a framework for what was absolutely necessary for subscribers to know. The targeted messaging has resulted in high engagement due to the opt-in nature of the platform.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cA disease can get anywhere in the world within 24 hours, so having this first line of connection with travellers to educate them on what they can do to prevent further spreading is really important to us\u201d, said Uribe. \u201cThis is changing the way we connect with our audience, which may be something we look at doing permanently\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Is your organisation interested in adopting a similar approach to government-citizen communications?\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><em style=\"font-size: 1rem;\"><strong>For more information about GovDelivery&#8217;s Interactive Text solution, please<a href=\"http:\/\/govdelivery.co.uk\/contact\/\"> get in touch<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","button":""}}]}},"post_slider_clone":{"posts_slider_group":{"show_section":true,"posts_slider":[{"add_anchor":false,"anchor_name":"","background_color":"green","slider_subhead":"","slider_headline":"Discover More Blogs","slider_text":"","slider_type":"blog_posts","manual_resources":false,"slider_resource_tax":"recent","add_additional_filters":false,"department_filter":false,"market_filter":false,"outcome_filter":false,"product_filter":false,"region_filter":false,"solution_filter":false,"topic_filter":false,"slider_link":{"title":"View All Resources","url":"\/uk\/learning-center\/","target":""},"slider_link_icon":false}]}},"call_to_action":{"hide_call_to_action":false,"color":"red","custom_cta":false,"custom_subhead":"","custom_headline":"","custom_description":"","custom_link":null,"custom_image":false}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog_posts\/40000","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog_posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog_posts"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40000"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"resource_tax_market","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource_tax_market?post=40000"},{"taxonomy":"resource_tax_dept","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource_tax_dept?post=40000"},{"taxonomy":"resource_tax_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource_tax_type?post=40000"},{"taxonomy":"resource_tax_region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource_tax_region?post=40000"},{"taxonomy":"resource_tax_outcomes","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource_tax_outcomes?post=40000"},{"taxonomy":"resource_tax_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource_tax_topic?post=40000"},{"taxonomy":"resource_tax_products","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource_tax_products?post=40000"},{"taxonomy":"resource_tax_solutions","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource_tax_solutions?post=40000"},{"taxonomy":"resource_tax_services","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/granicus.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource_tax_services?post=40000"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}