Public Health Significance of Urban Pests (A Euro Publication)

Many urban planners and managers erroneously assume that pest-borne diseases are relics of the past. Since the mid-20th century, however, major changes in ecology, climate and human behavior have favored the proliferation of urban pests. Alarmingly, the dramatic rise in urban sprawl has led to city suburbs becoming the natural habitat of ticks, rodents and other pests.These changes make timely a new analysis of the effects of present-day urban pests on health. To this end, WHO invited international experts in various pest-related fields to identify the public health risk posed by various pests and to suggest appropriate prevention and control measures. This book presents their conclusions and formulates policy options for all levels of decision-making on the future management of pests and pest-related diseases. 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.]