TDR research on vector control and ecosystem management
Introduction
WHO/TDR/Crump
Jiangsu providence, China. Areas such as this are regularly flooded following heavy rains. The flooding means that intermediate host snails can re-invade areas previously cleared, parasites can develop, and the waters can become sources of infection for anyone living nearby.
Improving vector control and ecosystem management can be critical in reducing the transmission risks of vector-borne diseases.
Effective vector control can limit vector breeding and vector habitats, reducing disease transmission and prevalence. Vector control can make a powerful contribution to disease prevention. The effectiveness of vector control methods have been constrained by problems of logistics, high costs, insecticide resistance and concerns over environmental pollution. More recently, TDR has taken a broader approach to vector control, focusing on better management of the ecosystem in a multi-disciplinary manner, with actions anchored at community level.