What are the most effective and sustainable vector control methods and tools in different contexts?

1 Environmental management

One of the key strategies to reduce the risk of VBDs is to modify or manipulate the natural or human-made environments where vectors breed, rest, or feed. This can include draining or filling stagnant water sources, clearing vegetation, improving waste management, or applying biological or chemical agents to kill or repel vectors. Environmental management can be cost-effective, long-lasting, and environmentally friendly, but it requires community participation, political commitment, and adequate resources.

2 Personal protection

Another way to prevent VBDs is to protect oneself from vector bites or contact, especially when traveling or living in endemic areas. This can involve wearing appropriate clothing, using insect repellents, sleeping under insecticide-treated nets, or taking prophylactic drugs. Personal protection can be simple, accessible, and adaptable, but it depends on individual awareness, compliance, and availability of supplies.

3 Biological control

Biological control is the use of natural enemies or competitors of vectors to reduce their population or transmission potential. This can include introducing predators, parasites, or pathogens that attack vectors, or releasing genetically modified or sterilized vectors that reduce their reproduction or infectivity. Biological control can be innovative, specific, and self-sustaining, but it also poses ethical, ecological, and regulatory challenges.

4 Chemical control

Chemical control is the application of synthetic or natural substances that kill or inhibit vectors or their pathogens. This can include spraying insecticides, larvicides, or adulticides on vector habitats or resting sites, or using drugs or vaccines to treat or prevent infections in humans or animals. Chemical control can be rapid, effective, and scalable, but it also carries risks of resistance, toxicity, or side effects.

5 Integrated vector management

Integrated vector management (IVM) is a comprehensive approach that combines different vector control methods and tools based on evidence, local context, and stakeholder collaboration. IVM aims to optimize the use of resources, maximize the impact, and minimize the negative consequences of vector control interventions. IVM can be adaptive, holistic, and participatory, but it requires coordination, monitoring, and evaluation.

6 Future directions

Vector control is a dynamic and evolving field that faces new challenges and opportunities due to climate change, urbanization, globalization, and emerging technologies. Some of the future directions for vector control research and practice include developing novel tools and methods, enhancing surveillance and modeling, strengthening intersectoral and transdisciplinary partnerships, and empowering communities and individuals.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?