ZeroFly® Shelter - Application, Safe Handling, Transportation and Use

Advisory Note (October 2004)

Potential Applications

ZeroFly® is a plastic sheeting designed as a dual purpose tool for shelter construction and insect-borne disease control. It incorporates the slow release of Deltamethrin, which migrates gradually to both surfaces of the exposed plastic sheeting.

Deltamethrin is a WHO-recommended insecticide that is commonly used for the impregnation of mosquito nets and for indoor residual spaying. It controls mosquitoes, house flies and other insects by contact and ingestion.

ZeroFly®, when used as the inner and/ or outer wall of a shelter, may help to control mosquitoes that bite and rest indoors. This works in a similar way to indoor residual spraying. When used as the outer surface of a shelter, or latrine, this material will help to control insects which prefer to rest on the outside of shelters, such as house flies.

Maximum insect control will be achieved when the total inside and outer surface area of the shelter, or latrine, is made of this material. Used in this way significant protection from malaria may be achieved for the occupants who sleep under the shelter. Where ZeroFly® is used only for roofing material of shelters (and not walls) this may be beneficial for insect control but is unlikely to provide adequate malaria control alone and should be used in conjunction.

Safe Handling and Transportation

Deltamethrin is recommended by WHO for use in malaria control materials. It has low human toxicity risk when combined with materials such as ZeroFly®. Independent safety tests recently conducted on ZeroFly® show that it is both safe to use as shelter material and has no significant accumulative effect in humans, rain water, or soil when used in these applications.

Skin contact with deltamethrin can cause skin irritation. When transporting, storing, or using this material for shelter/ latrine construction:

• Avoid children handling the materials where possible.
• Ensure all users wear PVC, or other, protective gloves for handling the material.
• Wear full clothing to minimise any skin contact.
• Ensure that soap and water are always available for all people handling this material. Advise shelter occupants to minimise direct contact with the material once construction is completed.
• Use of ZeroFly® for food storage or as a surface for food preparation by camp residents is not appropriate and should be actively discouraged.

First Aid

Symptoms from exposure to deltamethrin will generally be short lasting and will normally wear off in a few hours.

• In the event of breathing difficulty place the person in fresh air. If symptoms persist seek medical attention.
• If skin irritation occurs, remove any contaminated clothes and wash skin (and clothes) thoroughly with soap.
• If irritation of the eyes occurs then flush the eyes with large amounts of clean water. Seek medical attention if irritation persists.

This MENTOR Initiative advisory note does not imply, in any way, endorsement of this, or other, commercial products.

Please refer to www.rbm.who.int for further information.