Project Title: Using a community-driven approach to identify and effectively target aquatic habitants of Anopheles funestus mosquitoes, so as to reduce malaria transmission in rural Tanzania
Project Description: In south-eastern Tanzania, where malaria prevalence has reduced by >60% since 2000, populations of the formerly notorious malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae, have significantly diminished, primarily because of insecticidal bednets. A different species (Anopheles arabiensis) remains abundant, but the more efficient Anopheles funestus, now transmits >80% of malaria infections; and is resistant to insecticides on bednets. Malaria prevention in Tanzania still relies on indoor vectors control interventions, but the government has also been promoting larviciding as... In south-eastern Tanzania, where malaria prevalence has reduced by >60% since 2000, populations of the formerly notorious malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae, have significantly diminished, primarily because of insecticidal bednets. A different species (Anopheles arabiensis) remains abundant, but the more efficient Anopheles funestus, now transmits >80% of malaria infections; and is resistant to insecticides on bednets. Malaria prevention in Tanzania still relies on indoor vectors control interventions, but the government has also been promoting larviciding as a complementary tool. Unfortunately, the approach is often considered logistically intensive and expensive where mosquito habitats are not fixed, few and findable. Surprisingly, our surveys by trained field-staff show that though habitats of An. funestus (dominant vector in south-eastern Tanzania) are difficult to find, they are highly distinctive and fixed. I propose to work with communities to identify and map An. funestus habitats, then preferentially target them with effective larviciding to crash transmission.
Principal Investigator : Salum Mapua
Department Name :
Time frame: (2018-09-01) - (2021-08-28)
Wellcome Trust (Normal)
External Collaborating Partners
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