ABSTRACT
Helper versus enforcer Public health entomologists are public servants, with salaries paid with state or federal money. For this reason, they are obligated to help citizens with insect issues relating to public health. As described in earlier chapters, this can include identifying arthropod specimens submitted by the public or medical community, or on-site visits to schools, hospitals, or parks to investigate pest or vector problems. Generally, this is the helper role that is looked upon favorably by the public. In such situations, people might say something like, “I called the department of health about my problem and they offered all sorts of helpful advice and recommendations. I was very pleased with the way it all worked out.” The other side of the coin is when the public health entomologist (PHE) must be a regulator, helping enforce state vector control or general sanitation rules and regulations. This kind of activity is necessary, but no fun for any of the parties involved. In such cases, the public may be angry and frustrated because the PHE made them clean up a breeding site or otherwise abate a nuisance. Perhaps the health department carried someone to court to force compliance with vector control rules. In that case, people might say something like, “$#&@#! Who owns this property anyway? Me or the health department? Can’t I do what I want on my own property?” Complicating all this is the fact that politics may enter into enforcement decisions, or lead to reversals of previous decisions. To be an effective PHE requires knowledge of local and state political realities and an ability to use finesse to bring about enforcement with the least amount of political influence or damage.
