Impact of DDT re-introduction on malaria transmission in KwaZulu-Natal

To determine whether the re-introduction of DDT in KwaZulu-Natal had any effects on malaria transmission in the province. The 2000 malaria epidemic in KwaZulu-Natal has been attributed to pyrethroid-resistant anopheles mosquitoes in the area. Previous studies have shown that these mosquitoes are sti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:South African medical journal 2005-11, Vol.95 (11), p.871-874
Main Authors: MAHARAJ, R, MTHEMBU, D. J, SHARP, B. L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anopheles
Anopheles funestus
Biological and medical sciences
DDT
Disease Outbreaks - prevention & control
Human protozoal diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Insect Vectors
Malaria
Malaria - epidemiology
Malaria - prevention & control
Malaria - transmission
Medical sciences
Mosquito Control - methods
Parasitic diseases
Pesticides
Protozoal diseases
South Africa - epidemiology
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Summary:To determine whether the re-introduction of DDT in KwaZulu-Natal had any effects on malaria transmission in the province. The 2000 malaria epidemic in KwaZulu-Natal has been attributed to pyrethroid-resistant anopheles mosquitoes in the area. Previous studies have shown that these mosquitoes are still susceptible to DDT. To determine whether DDT re-introduction had any impact on malaria transmission in KwaZulu-Natal, the following variables (pre- and post-epidemic) were investigated: (i) the number of reported cases; and (ii) the distribution of Anopheles funestus in relation to the insecticides sprayed. The notified malaria cases and the distribution of A. funestus were measured to determine the effects of DDT re-introduction on malaria transmission. After DDT re-introduction, the number of malaria cases decreased to levels lower than those recorded before the epidemic. A. funestus appears to have been eradicated from the province. The combination of an effective insecticide and effective antimalarial drugs in KwaZulu-Natal has resulted in a 91% decline in the malaria incidence rate. Unfortunately the continued exclusive use of DDT within the malarious areas of the province is threatened by the emergence of insecticide resistance.
ISSN:0256-9574