Work

Insecticide-Treated Nets Can Reduce Malaria Transmission by Mosquitoes Which Feed Outdoors

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: Insecticide treated nets (ITNs) represent a powerful means for controlling malaria in Africa because the mosquito vectors feed primarily indoors at night. The proportion of human exposure that occurs indoors, when people are asleep and can conveniently use ITNs, is therefore very high. Recent evidence suggests behavioral changes by malaria mosquito populations to avoid contact with ITNs by feeding outdoors in the early evening. We adapt an established mathematical model of mosquito behavior and malaria transmission to illustrate how ITNs can achieve communal suppression of malaria transmission exposure, even where mosquito evade them and personal protection is modest. We also review recent reports from Tanzania to show that conventional mosquito behavior measures can underestimate the potential of ITNs because they ignore the importance of human movements.

Source: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0579

Authors: Nicodem J. Govella, Fredros O. Okumu, Gerry F. Killeen

Institutions: Ifakara Health Institute, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Malaria Research and Control

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust