Integrated Vector Management (eBook)

Diseases transmitted by insects continue to have a major impact on
human populations. Malaria, dengue, onchocerciasis, sleeping
sickness and leishmaniasis all adversely affect man. Malaria is one
of the most important causes of child mortality and reduces
economic development in many countries, with agricultural
productivity often greatly reduced, as many vectors are active in
the wet season favourable for crop production. Vector control is
crucial to reduce the extent to which drugs are needed to treat the
diseases, as the parasite can become resistant, or the drugs are
often too expensive for those living in rural areas and urban slums
most affected by these diseases.

Chemical control of vectors is often the only method that can
reduce vector populations in a disease epidemic, but with vectors
developing resistance to insecticides, there is increasing
awareness that a single control method is often insufficient and
also that chemical control must be integrated where possible with
other control measures.

In Integrated Vector Management, Graham Matthews covers
the main chemical methods of vector control, including the use of
indoor residual spraying, space treatments, the use of treated bed
nets and larviciding, but also stresses the importance of drainage
schemes and improvement of houses to prevent access of indoor
vectors, techniques that have largely been responsible for reducing
the risk of vector borne diseases in Europe and the USA. This book
combines practical information from successful vector control
programmes, including early use of DDT, and recent research into a
vital resource for all those now involved in combating insect
vector borne diseases.

Integrated Vector Management is an essential tool, not
only for medical entomologists and those directly involved in
government health departments, but also for all those who provide
the skills and management needed to operate successful area-wide
vector management programmes. Libraries in all universities and
research establishments world-wide, where biological sciences,
medicine and agriculture are studied and taught should have
multiple copies of this important book.