Air Force entomology efforts during Operation Pacific Angel: Philippines, 2010

An Air Force entomologist was deployed to the northern Philippines as part of Operation Pacific Angel in February 2010. Although the broad scope of this mission was to provide humanitarian and civic assistance, the entomologist focused solely on entomological issues and disease prevention within the city of Laoag. A collaborative partnership was built between the USAF, the Philippine Air Force and the Laoag City Health Department to better serve this specific effort. The entomology portion of this mission had three distinct components: First, there was the need to conduct vector-borne disease surveillance in and around the city of Laoag. Thus, mosquitoes and ticks were collected via a variety of methods during this ten-day mission. The specimens were identified and tested for pathogens and viruses, as deemed appropriate. The second component was to provide basic health education to the Philippine populace. The entomologist traveled to 21 barangays within Laoag City and directly spoke to nearly 1,000 residents on the prevention of such common diseases as dengue fever and rabies. Handouts and training aids were also distributed to the residents. The third entomological component of this mission was to provide scientific-based training to the Laoag City Health Department and the Philippine Air Force on how to establish, among other things, a mosquito surveillance program for their city and military bases. Even though this Philippine mission only lasted 10 days, it was this third component that will have long-lasting implications as the collaborative relationships and partnerships continue to develop and flourish.