Human exposure to anopheline mosquitoes occurs primarily indoors, even for users of insecticide-treated nets in Luangwa Valley, South-east Zambia
Human exposure to anopheline mosquitoes occurs primarily indoors, even for users of insecticide-treated nets in Luangwa Valley, South-east Zambia
Blog Article
Abstract
Background
Current front line malaria vector control methods such as indoor residual spraying (IRS) and long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), rely upon the preference of many primary vectors to feed and/or rest inside human habitations where they can be targeted with domestically-applied insecticidal products.We studied the human biting behaviour of the malaria vector
Methods
Mosquitoes were collected by human landing catch in blocks of houses with either combined use of deltamethrin-based IRS and LLINs or LLINs alone.Human behaviour data were collected to estimate how much exposure to mosquito bites indoors and outdoors occurred at various times of the night for LLIN users and non-users.
Results
821] and 0.624 [0.324, 0.852], respectively.
However, the overwhelming majority of both species were caught at times when most people are indoors.The proportion of mosquitoes caught at a time when most people are indoors were 0.981 [0.881, 0.
997] and 0.897 [0.731, 0.965], respectively, so the proportion of human exposure to both species occuring indoors was high for individuals lacking LLINs (
funestus
While LLIN users were better protected, more than half of their exposure was nevertheless estimated to occur indoors (
584).
Conclusions
The proportion of human exposure to both