Impact of Olyset® Nets on malaria transmission in India

Abstract

Background & objectives: Efficacy of Olyset nets, long-lasting insecticidal nets were tested fromAugust 2003 to August 2006 against Anopheles culicifacies, the vector which transmits 60% of allmalaria cases in rural India.Methods: Three villages in District Gautam Budh Nagar (Uttar Pradesh), India were selected for thetrial and Olyset nets were distributed in one village, in another village untreated nets were distributedand the third village was kept as control where nets were not used. Entomological, and epidemiologicaldata were collected using standard methods.Results: The use of Olyset nets reduced the indoor resting density of An. culicifacies and also reducedmosquito entry into the structures where Olyset nets were used. No mosquitoes were caught landingon the Olyset nets. There was a reduction in the parity rate of An. culicifacies in the Olyset net villageas compared with untreated net and no net villages. The impact of Olyset nets was observed on malariaincidence and only one case of Plasmodium falciparum malaria was reported in the Olyset net villagebut these continued to be found in the village with untreated nets and the control.Conclusion: Results of the present study confirmed that Olyset nets are highly effective in reducingthe indoor resting density of mosquitoes, man-vector contact and malaria incidence.

Keywords

• Anopheles culicifacies
• human-vector contact
• malaria transmission
• Olyset nets
• parity rate
• sporozoite rate