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Entomological Society of America calls for improved tick surveillance, education of specialists
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The Entomological Society of America has released a statement advocating national policies that focus on managing tick populations and training new professionals to reduce the impact of tick-borne diseases.
“The rapid rise in tick-borne diseases is a critical national issue,” Phil Mulder, PhD, president of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) said in a related press release. “Robust investment in training and research support for the existing and future generation of tick scientists is key to developing solutions that will relieve the escalating health and economic burdens caused by tick parasitism and tick-borne diseases in North America.”
The society’s calls to action included:
- improvement to vaccines, repellents, attractants and acaricides;
- adoption of tick surveys and actions to suppress tick encounter rates;
- development of outreach that enhances citizens’ knowledge of tick control and tick-bite prevention;
- creation of government partnerships that speed the translation of tick-control technologies into products; and
- greater investment in tick expertise at the college level.
The ESA believes entomology is increasingly vital to the progress of society, according to the press release, and that professionals in the field have a “responsibility to render effective service to humanity.”