Article Type:  Editorial

Importance and Need of Medical Entomology and Medical Entomologist in Public Health

Year: 2023; Volume: 3; Issue: 3; Page No: 1 – 2

Author:   Jayanthi Sureshbabu

Affiliation:  Editor-In-Chief, International Journal of Medical Sciences and Nursing Research, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India and Former Lecturer in Medical Entomology, Department of Community Medicine, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalapet, Pondicherry, India.

Email ID:  Editor-in-chief@ijmsnr.com

How to cite this article: Sureshbabu J.  Importance and Need of Medical Entomology and Medical Entomologist in Public Health.  Int J Med Sci and Nurs Res 2023;3(3):1–2.

Article Summary:  Submitted:  20-July-2023; Revised:  18-August-2023; Accepted:  05-September-2023; Published:  30-September-2023

https://doi.org/10.55349/ijmsnr.20233312

Full Text

Introduction

Entomology is a science that deals with the study of arthropods, and included the other sciences like zoology, biology, parasitology and micro-biology. Medical Entomology is a branch of entomology which deals with arthropods which affect the health and well-being of man and vertebrate animals. In other words, medical/veterinary entomology is the medical science directly concerned with vectors that affect human and animal health.  Other branches of entomology are also available. They are Industrial Entomology/Economical Entomology: deals with industrially or economically important arthropods (industrial pests). Agricultural Entomology deals with the pest science dealing with arthropods that affect plants and animals.  Medical Entomology (ME) is an important subject in both medical and public health education. [1] It is very much useful in better understanding in the research of vector-borne infectious diseases in field and in the medical teaching and research also. [2, 3] Most of the very recent medical entomology related discoveries have yet to be translated in major control approaches in the vector borne public health problems and it gives modern technology, track the problem and find out the direct solutions. [4]

Medical Entomology in Public Health

ME is also very much useful in the develop of vaccines and to prevent human community from insects and arthropod vectors transmit diseases.  Iglisch I [5] had mentioned elaborately about the significance of entomology in the area of public health very clearly.  Public Health Entomology (PHE) program at Purdue University how it is aimed to reducing VBD by using some method and public education. [6] PHE deals on population biology of VBD, understanding of pathogens perpetuate over time and to reduce the burden in human beings’ health. Spielman [7] had explained in his article very clearly about the issues in public health entomology.

Medical Entomologist in Public Health

Medical Entomologist need and their works are very much essential in public health.  So many VBD and other diseases out breaks are happening in various occasions/seasons in regions/states/countries.   In the year 2022, there was 6,430 dengue cases reported and 8 persons died.  In 2023, the state Tamil Nadu reported 4,048 dengue cases in the past 8 months 15 days [8] as show in the following Figure – 1.  Medical entomologists are dedicated to eliminating vector-borne diseases by surveying and managing the insects and other arthropods that cause them.  That’s why, the need of medical entomologists is very important to the world. [9]

Figure – 1 Distribution of monthly dengue cases in Tamilnadu in 2023

Conclusion

From this, I have concluded that medical entomology is an essential and important one in public health.  So, government has to implement medical entomology as one of the subjects in school and college levels curriculum.  Medical Entomologists are doing their great job and they are helped to vaccine development, public, government and policy makers.  Further more studies are needed to find the importance of medical entomology and entomologist to the community.

References

  1. Sureshbabu J.  A View on Medical Entomology and its importance in the medical fields.  Int J Med Sci and Nurs Res 2022;2(3):1-2.  DOI:  https://doi.org/10.55349/ijmsnr.20222312
  2. Laroche M, Berenger JM, Delaunay P, Charrel R, Pradines B, Berger F, etc.  Medical Entomology:  A Reemerging Field of Research to Better Understand Vector-Borrne Infectious Diseases.  Clinical Infectious Diseases 2017;65(Suppl-1):S30-S38.  DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cix463
  3. Sureshbabu J.  Medical Entomology teaching and research to medical students in a teaching medical institute in Pondicherry – A view and experience of a teaching faculty.  Int J Med Sci and Nurs Res 2022;3(1):1-2.  DOI: https://doi.org/10.55349/ijmsnr.20233112
  4. Reisen WK.  Medical Entomology – back to the future?  Infect Genet Evol 2014;28:573-582.  PMID: 24316291
  5. Iglisch I.  Significance of entomology in the area of public health.  Schriftenr Ver Wasser Boden Lufthyg 1981;52:425-434.  PMID: 7052876
  6. Hill CA, Whitford F, MacDonald JF. Assessing and responding to public health entomology needs in Indiana.  American Entomologist 2009;55(2):114-121.  DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ae/55.2.114
  7. Spielman A, Pollack RJ, Kiszewski AE, Telford III SR. Issues in public health entomology. Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 2004;1(1):3-19.  DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/153036601750137606
  8. The Hindu: Dengue Cases in 2023. Available from:  https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/4048-dengue-cases-reported-in-the-past-eight-and-a-half-months-in-tamil-nadu/article67312636.ece#:~:text=According%20to%20details%20available%20on,and%20eight%20deaths%20in%202022.&text=At%20the%20field%20level%2C%20the,cases%20as%20quickly%20as%20possible   Published on:  September 15, 2023 10:35 pm, Updated September 16, 2023 11:36 am IST – CHENNAI.
  9. University of Florida: Why the world needs medical entomologists more than ever.  Available from: https://onlineentomology.ifas.ufl.edu/about/entomology-articles/why-the-world-needs-medical-entomologists-more-than-ever/  [Last Accessed on: 18th August 2023]

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