BASF: Exploiting mosquito behaviour to control dengue
At the Worldwide Insecticide Resistance Network conference in Singapore this week, BASF entomologist and vector control expert, Dr. James Austin, called on the public health industry to take a new approach to combating mosquito-borne disease in urban high-rise environments.
“The Aedes mosquito that spreads diseases like dengue, Zika and chikungunya thrives in our man-made urban environment. Any small patch of shady water, from water barrels and plant pots to puddles and old tyres – even a screw cap from a beer bottle is enough for Aedes to breed. This makes it very difficult to control” said Austin, a senior scientist in BASF’s public
health research team. “And, as height is no barrier for mosquitoes, the trend towards high-rise living especially in Asia and South America creates very real mosquito abatement challenges”. Like humans, mosquitoes have a daily routine for feeding and resting on indoor and outdoor surfaces. James Austin is now encouraging public health professionals and agencies to exploit this behaviour in a ‘push-pull’ strategy that combines BASF’s non-repellent, resistance management insecticide, chlorfenapyr, with conventional methods.
BASF entomologist and vector control expert, James Austin (centre) working on field trials for insecticide-treated mosquito nets. Photo: BASF
He recommends an integrated approach using multiple tools: exterior application of repellent sprays, larvicides and barrier treatments plus non-repellent chemistry applied inside to typical mosquito resting areas such as wall bases, balconies, door sweeps, under beds, in stairwells and in air conditioning units. He also advocates treated bed nets to protect sleepers, especially infants, the elderly, pregnant women and the infirm, from mosquitoes already in the home.
An integrated approach combining new non-repellent and repellent technology is needed to address dengue in high-rise urban environments. Source: BASF
“The proven methods of the past are still important, but it is essential to understand mosquito behaviour and select the appropriate controls to exploit it. Resting mosquitoes cannot detect non-repellent insecticides and stay in contact with the active ingredient for longer, making it much more effective” explained Austin. “A combination of non-repellent and repellent treatments can also discourage resting in certain areas such as bedrooms and drive the mosquitoes to other treated rooms”.
Non-repellent insect control strategies have been used in the professional pest control industry for many years and BASF has established a leading role in developing alternative active ingredients to beat the mounting challenge of insecticide resistance. Austin believes that applying these new technologies and strengthening public-private collaborations between pest management professionals, health authorities and the community could be the key to preventing dengue and similar diseases.
Dengue roadshows have been held in collaboration with University Kebangsaan in Malaysia: Photo: BASF
However, he also points out that it is not enough to simply rely on spraying insecticides. “Above all, we need an integrated approach, combining education, inspection, preventative measures and curative treatments to really make a difference” he stressed.
BASF has been working on integrated programs to help control the spread of dengue fever in South East Asia for several years. In Singapore, the company established the Dengue Warriors education program to teach environmental health managers, pest controllers, building contractors and facilities managers about mosquito behaviour and prevention methods. A further dengue initiative is running in collaboration with the University Kebangsaan in Malaysia.
As part of its dengue program in Asia, BASF is collaborating with the University Kebangsaan Malaysia and local town councils on a series of roadshows to teach communities about mosquito behavior and dengue prevention. Photo: BASF.
Four roadshows have been held this year in the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur areas and more are planned. These sharing events involving the local town councils teach communities about mosquito biology and how to detect larvae, as well as larvicide controls and product stewardship.
More information on BASF’s public health work is available on www.publichealth.basf.com.
Note: BASF non-repellent insecticides are for professional use only
..................................................................
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The more than 115,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of €64.5 billion in 2017. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.
About BASF’s Crop Protection division
With a rapidly growing population, the world is increasingly dependent on our ability to develop and maintain sustainable agriculture and healthy environments. BASF’s Crop Protection division works with farmers, agricultural professionals, pest management experts and others to help make this possible. With their cooperation, BASF is able to sustain an active R&D pipeline, an innovative portfolio of products and services, and teams of experts in the lab and in the field to support customers in making their businesses succeed. In 2017, BASF’s Crop Protection division generated sales of €5.7 billion. For more information, please visit us at www.agriculture.basf.com or on any of our social media channels.
