Indranil Acharya and Jayanti P Acharya
Malaria causes a lot of morbidity and mortality each year, esp. among troops operating in uncongenial malarial areas. Personal protection by use of bed nets is one of the main methods of protection against the Anopheles and other species of mosquitoes, besides the anti-larval and anti-adult sprays. Insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) are already in use, but these involve periodic retreatment with costly chemicals. Long-lasting Insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) which do not require re-treatment, could therefore prove to be good substitutes for ITNs. A study was thus planned and undertaken to compare the bio-efficacy of LLINs with ITNs, in an endemic area. The acceptability factors and collateral benefits if any were also analyzed. The results showed that LLINs were more effective in knocking down/killing mosquitoes as compared to the ITNs. They were more comfortable and safe and hence more acceptable to the user and since collateral benefits were noted against some other insects like cockroaches, leeches; they were thought of as more advantageous. The future of mosquito control largely depends on effective distribution, usage and retention of LLINs. More research on acceptability aspects besides the regular bio-efficacy evaluations, are required.
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