This chapter introduces topics of medical entomology and vector-borne diseases (VBDs) in 12 Asian countries. In particular, malaria, dengue fever, and Japanese encephalitis, which are mosquito-borne diseases, and a sense of urgency about the spread of serious damage is common among Asian countries. Several countries also announced information from scrub typhus (tsutsugamushi disease) from Bhutan, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Nepal, and Taiwan, SFTS from China, Taiwan, and Japan, and leishmaniasis from Bhutan, Indonesia, Nepal, and Thailand. There are also concerns about increased Zika virus infection in Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam). Flea-borne diseases (plague) are also important VBDs in Taiwan and Vietnam. From Japan, the occurrence of redback spider bites and outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) are introduced. Indonesia introduced the situation of livestock losses due to VBDs, and Thailand introduced the problem of insecticide resistance. In Turkey, located in West Asia, Hyalomma ticks that do not inhabit East and Southeast Asia are distributed, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), which is caused by the bite of this tick, has been introduced as an important VBD. The development of forensic entomology in Malaysia, and the use of various biological control methods in Vietnam are also well described.
It should be noted that the spread of VBD and other pests is not limited to the countries listed here, but may already be a problem throughout Asia. This information is valuable in understanding the current status of VBDs in Asia and will be expected to contribute to future efforts to address VBDs.