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Insects and Public Health: An Overview.
Simone Belluco1, Michela Bertola1, Fabrizio Montarsi1
1Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Viale dell'Università 10, 35020 Legnaro, Italy.
Insects
|March 28, 2023
Summary
Insects significantly impact public health, acting as disease vectors and pests, but also offering benefits like bioindicators and food sources. Public health professionals must manage these dual roles for human and animal welfare.
Area of Science:
- Public Health Entomology
- Environmental Science
- One Health
Background:
- Insects are globally abundant and occupy diverse ecological niches, leading to constant human-insect interaction.
- This interaction presents both risks (pests, disease vectors) and opportunities (bioindicators, food/feed) relevant to public health.
- Understanding these multifaceted impacts is crucial for effective public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of the complex relationship between insects and public health.
- To highlight traditional and emerging topics at this interface.
- To analyze the current and future roles of public health authorities in insect management.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of historical and current research on insects and public health.
- Analysis of insect-related public health challenges and opportunities.
- Examination of public health policy and management strategies.
Main Results:
- Insects pose significant public health risks as pests and vectors of numerous diseases.
- Insects offer valuable potential as bioindicators of environmental pollution.
- Insects are increasingly recognized for their utility as a sustainable food and feed source.
Conclusions:
- Public health professionals must address both the negative and positive impacts of insects.
- Integrated insect management strategies are needed to balance competing goals: production, exploitation, protection, and risk mitigation.
- Enhanced knowledge and strategic planning are essential for preserving human and animal health and welfare in relation to insects.
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