Insecticide-Treated Mosquito Nets: A Proven Malaria Prevention Strategy

Insecticide treated mosquito or bed nets (ITNs) are effective, easy-to-use devices for preventing malaria. ITN manufacturers follow international guidelines to ensure the safety of young children and other vulnerable populations. Data suggest positive results from ITN use.

Prevalence of Malaria

• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that in 2008 there were 243 million cases of malaria in 109 countries, causing nearly 863,000 deaths. Transmitted by mosquito-borne parasites, malaria is prevalent in rural poverty areas in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Europe.

ITN Background

• Bed nets were originally sprayed with DDT. Concerns about toxicity led to collaborative efforts in the early 1980s to develop safer solutions.

Bed Net Composition

• Usually made of polyester or cotton, bed nets are soaked in a botanical insecticide, Pyrethrin. The insecticide is effective for up to three years even if holes develop. (See References 3)

International Cooperation

• International aid organizations or community health workers usually distribute bed nets. Quality control is less a concern than failure to use the nets. Foundations contribute significantly to the $5-per-net cost.

Cost Effectiveness

• Research continues into effective channels of ITN distribution. An article in the April 2008 issue of "Malaria Journal" by D.H. Mueller and others concluded that distributing bed nets during a large-scale child immunization project in Togo achieved positive results. Other large-scale distributions have targeted prenatal clinics.