Public Health Pest Control

The second half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century witnessed important changes in ecology, climate and human behaviour that favoured the development of urban pests. Most alarmingly, urban planners now face the dramatic expansion of urban sprawl, in which city suburbs are growing into the natural habitats of ticks, rodents and other pests. Also, many city managers now erroneously assume that pest-borne diseases are relics of the past. All these changes make timely a new analysis of the direct and indirect effects of present-day urban pests on health. Such an analysis should lead to the development of strategies to manage them and reduce the risk of exposure. To this end, WHO invited international experts in various fields - pests, pest-related diseases and pest management - to provide evidence on which to base policies. These experts identified the public health risk posed by various pests and appropriate measures to prevent and control them. This book presents their conclusions and formulates policy options for all levels of decision-making to manage pests and pest-related diseases in the future. [Ed.]

In the struggle against vector-borne diseases, it is critical that we bridge the gap among vector control workers on the ground (practitioners), public health planners and administrators, and (academic) medical entomologists. This second edition of Public Health Entomology is designed to fit certificate courses in public health entomology offered by universities and U.S. Centers of Excellence. It comprehensively examines vector-borne disease prevention, surveillance, and control from a governmental and public health perspective with worldwide application. Divided into two sections, the book begins with a historical account of the early beginnings of pest control and public health. Next, it outlines the concepts, design, and implementation of a sound public health entomology program, including issues associated with pesticide use, FEMA and other disaster response entities, and an adverse, chemophobic public. The second section provides an overview of some of the most common public health pests that are found globally. Copious photos and line drawings accentuate the text, along with text boxes and sidebars. The new edition addresses "IPM and Alternative Control Methods" in each section, expands the Lyme disease section, and includes other new and emerging tick-borne diseases (TBD). It provides enhanced discussion of working with local political figures and jurisdictions, as well as partnerships with academia, and is generally more worldwide in scope. Author Jerome Goddard designed and implemented the vector control program along the Mississippi Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. His ability to communicate his knowledge and experience to public health students, professionals, and the general public make this book an essential resource for preventing disease from these vector-borne threats.