Medical entomology
The CDC Medical Entomology Unit sits within the Public Health Unit.
What we do
The unit provides advice and carries out surveillance, monitoring, and control of insects of medical importance that affect human health.
It primarily performs a public health function with the aim of reducing the impact of insects of medical importance on the health and wellbeing of people in the Northern Territory. Mosquitoes and biting midges are the primary focus.
The Medical Entomology Unit works with the following objectives:
- to keep the NT free of malaria, dengue and other exotic mosquito borne diseases
- monitor and reduce endemic mosquito borne disease in the NT
- monitor and reduce endemic mosquito pest numbers in NT urban centres
- maintain integrated mosquito control programs at major centres throughout the Territory
- provide planning and development advice and guidelines to the Departments of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment and others to prevent new biting insect problems
- carry out cooperative and applied research on insects of medical importance to enable better control or reduce the impact of problem species
- promote public awareness and provide an advisory service on insects of medical importance to various government authorities, private enterprise and the public.
Publications
A large range of publications produced by the Medical Entomology Unit is available in ePublications, and on the CDC resource page under ‘ME’ including:
- development guidelines
- annual reports
- scientific reports and publications.
Mosquito calendars
Go to insects of medical importance for calendars and information on:
- biting midges
- saltmarsh mosquitoes.
Websites and resources
For general information see these online resources:
- Mosquito Control Association of Australia
- Australian Entomological Society
- Medical Entomology Department University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital
- Pests and Diseases Image Library
- NT insect database on the Department of Primary Industry and Resources website
- March Flies and their Medical Importance factsheet PDF (151.3 KB).
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