Mosquitoes can transmit malaria.
Mosquito nets treated with insecticides are one of the most economical ways of combating malaria. Nonprofit and government aid groups distribute insecticide-treated nets to countries in Southeast Asia and Africa where populations are most susceptible to the mosquito-transmitted disease. Does this Spark an idea?
Impact of Mosquito Diseases
Malaria kills one million people a year, according to the Mayo Clinic. The majority of people who die from the disease live in countries with subtropical and tropical climates. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the most at-risk populations include young children, people with HIV/AIDS, travelers from countries that do not have malaria problems and pregnant women.
Effect of Nets
While there is no vaccine for malaria, sleeping under a mosquito-insecticide treated net reduces exposure to mosquitoes during the night, when the female of the insect is at peak biting time. Pyrethroid insecticides are used to treat nets. The insecticide repels mosquitoes and can also shorten the lifespan of the pests.
Impact
Distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets in Africa and Southeast Asia is a major initiative of the WHO. According to the organization, the use of insecticide-treated nets has greatly reduced deaths of children from malaria.
Tags: insecticide-treated nets, Southeast Asia