Bio-larvicides

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QUESTION

Why is there no mention here of all the work being done on biolarvicides – the low cost solution for malaria control?

ANSWER

Actually, we had a question a while ago about the ECOWAS program in West Africa, which centers around the use of biolarvicides. A link to that question, and the answer, is provided here: http://www.malaria.com/questions/ecowas-malaria.

The most common form of biolarvicides are those using various microbes, notably Bacillus species, which target mosquito larvae but are harmless to other non-target organisms. A recent study in the Gambia showed very high success rates in killing Anopheles gambiae larvae, when a microbial larvicide using Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis strain AM65-52 was applied weekly. Some practitioners are concerned about the amount of effort and man-power a weekly application of larvicide might require, plus the training necessary for correct identification of habitat, but the study in the Gambia seemed to show good compliance once personnel were suitable trained. A link to the study, which is freely available via the Malaria Journal, is available here: http://www.malariajournal.com/content/6/1/76.

 

ECOWAS Program to Eradicate Malaria

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QUESTION
Why can I find no mention on your website of the ECOWAS program to eradicate malaria in their countries?

ANSWER
Thanks for bringing up ECOWAS. Since 2011, ECOWAS leaders have signaled a commitment to eradicating malaria in their region by 2015, and pilot programs are already underway in several countries, including Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Ghana. The program has centered on the use of larvicides for control of mosquito populations, thus reducing transmission. In April 2012, ECOWAS signed an agreement with Cuba in order to revitalize joint efforts to eradicate malaria in both West Africa as well as the Caribbean island. Soon after, Venezuela entered the agreement, pledging $20 million to the cause. These funds
will help support the construction of manufacturing facilities for biolarvicides in Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, among other things.

In August, the Commissioner of ECOWAS emphasized the need for community engagement in the fight against malaria. A road map for measuring future progress was also drawn up by health advisers from the region; the next high-level ministerial meeting to evaluate the program will take place in West Africa, and will likely include Cuban and Venezuealan partners, in December 2012.

WHO recommends that Larviciding is indicated only for vectors which tend to breed in permanent or semi-permanent water bodies that can be identified and treated, and where the density of the human population to be protected is sufficiently high to justify the treatment with relatively short cycles of all breeding places.