QUESTION

What measures can local people take to limit malaria infection?

ANSWER

People living in malarial areas can do a lot to protect themselves from getting malaria.  There are community programs for vector control (to control or eliminate mosquitoes) that include draining swamps to remove mosquito breeding habitat, spraying with insecticide, and using biological control techniques. In addition, to prevent  people from getting mosquito bites,   communities can educate families to screen their windows (if possible), to sleep under long lasting insecticide treated bednets, to cover their arms and legs with clothing  and to avoid being outdoors during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are biting. Communities can also educate people to identify signs and symptoms of malaria and to seek early treatment to avoid serious disease and possibly death.  See Malaria Prevention and Control for more information.