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Mosquito control is an important component of malaria control
strategy, although elimination of malaria in an area does not require the elimination of
all Anopheles mosquitoes. In North America and Europe for example, although the vector
Anopheles mosquitoes are still present, the parasite has been eliminated. Socio-economic
improvements (e.g., houses with screened windows, air conditioning) combined with vector
reduction efforts and effective treatment have led to the elimination of malaria without
the complete elimination of the vectors. On the other, controlling these highly adapted,
flying and hiding vectors is indeed a formidable task. Development of resistance to
insecticides has compounded the problem. Ban on non-biodegradable and non-eco-friendly
insecticides like DDT also may have contributed to the resurgence of malaria.
Mosquito Control Measures: The
following are the steps in mosquito control -
| Discourage egg
laying |
Source Reduction
[See] |
| Prevent
development of eggs into larvae and adults |
Larvicides
[See] |
| Kill the adult
mosquitoes |
Adult insecticides [See] |
| Do not allow
adult mosquitoes into places of human dwelling |
Personal protection [See] |
| Prevent
mosquitoes from biting human beings and deny blood meal |
The Mosquito Control
Chain
Female mosquito develops eggs, nourished with human blood |
Personal
Protection -
deny the blood meal |
|
Close
windows and doors to prevent entry; Protect humans against mosquito bite by using
bednets (insecticide treated), mosquito repellents |
Eggs laid on water collections |
Source
Reduction -
deny breeding ground |
|
Prevent
water logging, destroy unwanted water collections, keep water containers closed |
Eggs hatch and develop into larvae and pupae in a week |
Larvicides
-
Chemical, biological |
|
Kill
the larvae with larvicidal agents, Guppy or Gambusia fish or bacteria
or fungii |
Adults can live up to 4-10 weeks or more |
Insecticides |
|
Kill
the adults with space sprays (for instant kill) and residual sprays (for lasting effect) |
Adults enter the human dwellings between 5 pm and 10 pm and early
morning, hide in dark corners |
Prevent
entry |
|
Close
the doors and windows at that time; clear hiding places if possible |
Adults bite human beings at night, maximum at 11pm-4am |
|
Personal
protection by covering the body with clothes; use of mosquito nets and repellents. |
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