Medical and Veterinary Entomology
Volume 16, Issue 4, 2002, Pages 404-408

Insecticide-treated plastic tarpaulins for control of malaria vectors in refugee camps (Article)

Graham K. , Mohammad N. , Rehman H. , Nazari A. , Ahmad M. , Kamal M. , Skovmand O. , Guillet P. , Allan R. , Zaim M. , Yates A. , Lines J. , Rowland M.*
  • a HealthNet International, Peshawar, Pakistan, London Sch. of Hyg. and Trop. Med., London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
  • b HealthNet International, Peshawar, Pakistan
  • c HealthNet International, Peshawar, Pakistan
  • d HealthNet International, Peshawar, Pakistan
  • e HealthNet International, Peshawar, Pakistan
  • f HealthNet International, Peshawar, Pakistan
  • g Intelligent Insect Control, Montpellier, France
  • h World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
  • i World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
  • j World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
  • k London Sch. of Hyg. and Trop. Med., London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
  • l London Sch. of Hyg. and Trop. Med., London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
  • m HealthNet International, Peshawar, Pakistan, London Sch. of Hyg. and Trop. Med., London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom

Abstract

Spraying of canvas tents with residual pyrethroid insecticide is an established method of malaria vector control in tented refugee camps. In recent years, plastic sheeting (polythene tarpaulins) has replaced canvas as the utilitarian shelter material for displaced populations in complex emergencies. Advances in technology enable polythene sheeting to be impregnated with pyrethroid during manufacture. The efficacy of such material against mosquitoes when erected as shelters under typical refugee camp conditions is unknown. Tests were undertaken with free-flying mosquitoes on entomological study platforms in an Afghan refugee camp to compare the insecticidal efficacy of plastic tarpaulin sprayed with deltamethrin on its inner surface (target dose 30 mg/m2), tarpaulin impregnated with deltamethrin (initially ≥ 30mg/m2) during manufacture, and a tent made from the factory impregnated tarpaulin material. Preliminary tests done in the laboratory with Anopheles stephensi Liston (Diptera: Culicidae) showed that 1-min exposure to factory-impregnated tarpaulins would give 100% mortality even after outdoor weathering in a temperate climate for 12 weeks. Outdoor platform tests with the erected materials (baited with human subjects) produced mosquito mortality rates between 86-100% for sprayed or factory-impregnated tarpaulins and tents (average ∼40 anophelines and ∼200 culicines/per platform/night), whereas control mortality (with untreated tarpaulin) was no more than 5%. Fewer than 20% of mosquitoes blood-fed on human subjects under either insecticide-treated or non-treated shelters. The tarpaulin shelter was a poor barrier to host-seeking mosquitoes and treatment with insecticide did not reduce the proportion blood-feeding. Even so, the deployment of insecticide-impregnated tarpaulins in refugee camps, if used by the majority of refugees, has the potential to control malaria by killing high proportions of mosquitoes and so reducing the average life expectancy of vectors (greatly reducing vectorial capacity), rather than by directly protecting refugees from mosquito bites. Mass coverage with deltamethrin-sprayed or impregnated tarpaulins or tents has strong potential for preventing malaria in displaced populations affected by conflict.

Author Keywords

Deltamethrin Insecticide-treated plastic sheeting Complex emergency Mosquitoes Malaria vectors malaria control Afghans Mass effect Tarpaulin Polythene Pakistan Refugee camp Tents Conflict Anopheles Pyrethroid

Index Keywords

Pakistan parasitology Afghanistan refugee methodology insect bite human Refugees Diptera Insect Vectors Malaria mosquito housing disease carrier Animals disease vector Plastics Insecta Insect Bites and Stings Culicidae animal Humans insecticide Anopheles stephensi Animalia Article disease transmission Mosquito Control Insecticides drug effect plastic
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0036909057&doi=10.1046%2fj.1365-2915.2002.00395.x&partnerID=40&md5=147bfba5255e2c87e31838ba6ea0f36c
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2915.2002.00395.x
ISSN: 0269283X
Cited by: 41
Original Language: English