Arthropod-vectored diseases have long been a major obstacle to societal advancement globally. Various strategies to mitigate these diseases include preventative measures such as vaccination, primary treatment, and notably, the suppression of vectors in indoor and outdoor environments. Recent evidence suggests that inadequate control of indoor nuisance pests can lead to a lack of trust in indoor vector control (IVC) products, potentially resulting in their abandonment. This erosion of trust may undermine vector control programs and hinder progress toward malaria elimination.1
Christopher C Hayes, PhD, graduate teacher & research assistant at NC State tells Contagion about how successful control of indoor pests does not change the effectiveness of vector control tools themselves,
“The success of these products in controlling indoor pests encourages communities to keep using them, saving lives. Sadly, in the wake of failed indoor pest control using long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) and indoor residual sprays (IRS), research shows that communities begin to doubt these products, and can even end up blaming the products for their increasing indoor pest problems. This shift in community perception can threaten the success of malaria programs, leading to increased risk of malaria transmission, and ultimately to more malaria-related deaths.”
Main Takeaways
- Effective control of indoor pests is crucial for maintaining community trust in vector control products and preventing the undermining of malaria control efforts.
- There is a significant research gap in understanding how vector control products interact with indoor pests, necessitating more comprehensive studies to improve vector and pest management.
- To address pyrethroid resistance, newer ITNs are being developed with additional chemicals like PBO to enhance their effectiveness in malaria control.
Over the past four years, Hayes has been working to investigate some of the many interactions between LLINs and a single pest, the bed bug.
“Despite all of our work we still don't have a complete picture of how these products influence other aspects of bed bug biology and behavior, or how they impact any of the myriad of other pests within the home (cockroaches, flies, fleas, and the list can go on),” Hayes explains. “We need to understand these interactions so that future vector control product development and program design can simultaneously prioritize both vector- and indoor pest management, meeting the complete needs of malaria-endemic communities, and contributing one additional piece to the puzzle that is malaria elimination.”
The success of these strategies is heavily influenced by perceptions and acceptance at both individual and community levels. This review was conducted to assess the relationship between IVC strategies and the control of nuisance pests. This analysis involved an examination of relevant literature and studies focusing on the impact of indoor nuisance pests on the acceptance and effectiveness of LLINs and IRSs.1
The review highlights a significant research gap concerning the relationship between IVC and nuisance pests, and advocates for the integration of nuisance pest control into the development and implementation of new malaria elimination technologies.
According to the CDC, insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) offer personal protection and mosquito control, helping to decrease malaria illness, severe cases, and mortality in areas where malaria is common. Community-wide trials conducted in various African regions have shown that ITNs reduced the mortality rate of children under five from all causes by approximately 20%.2
Although, the increase in pyrethroid resistance has affected the effectiveness of pyrethroid-treated ITNs.2 Pyrethroid resistance happens when insects become immune to pyrethroid insecticides, making them less effective at controlling pests like mosquitoes and complicating malaria control.
To address this issue, newer ITNs are now being produced with piperonyl butoxide (PBO), which can counteract pyrethroid resistance, combined with pyrethroids, or with pyrethroids plus an additional insecticide, such as chlorfenapyr or pyriproxyfen.2
Arthropod-vectored diseases pose a major global health challenge, problems with indoor pest control can diminish community trust in these products, potentially jeopardizing malaria elimination efforts. Hayes' research highlights addressing this gap and improving product development are essential for sustaining community support and advancing malaria control.
References
Hayes C, Schal C. Review on the impacts of indoor vector control on domiciliary pests: good intentions challenged by harsh realities. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Published July 24, 2025. Accessed July 29, 2024. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2024.0609
