Diseases

The transmission of human and animal diseases by certain groups of arthropods is well documented and established. Looking at the list of insects that are classified as disease vectors and the spectrum of diseases they can carry it is no wonder that their control is regarded as such an important means of protecting public health.

Mosquitoes are, without a doubt, the most significant of the disease-carrying insects; they are associated with diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue, various encephalitis-type diseases and some of the worm parasites that cause filariasis. Tsetse flies; triatomid bugs; the true (Phlebotomid) sandflies; Simulid blackflies and fleas and other arthropods such as ticks are also important however.

In the absence of effective vaccines, drugs or other means to manage the incidence of many of these diseases, vector control remains a primary intervention in the protection of public health.

Typical vector control techniques include indoor residual spraying, space spraying, larviciding and use of insecticide treated materials such as bed nets.