ZeroVector® Durable Lining - Concept

Vector-borne diseases account for approximately 17% of the estimated global burden of infectious diseases¹. The most deadly vector-borne disease, malaria, kills over 1.2 million people annually, mostly African children under the age of five. Dengue fever, together with associated dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF), is the world's fastest growing vector-borne disease².

Since ZeroVector® Durable Lining adds aesthetic value to the rural home interior, it is welcomed by home owners.

Insecticide-treated bednets³ and indoor spraying of houses with residual insecticides⁴ are the primary interventions used in curtailing malaria transmission, and thus in reducing malaria morbidity and mortality.

Indoor residual spraying (IRS) reduces the density and lifespan of vector mosquitoes so that they can no longer transmit malaria parasites from one person to another. However, IRS programmes have various stumbling blocks. Repeat intervention is required every 6 to 12 months. The use of IRS is specifically restricted to smooth and non-porous surfaces, which means that the uniformity of coverage cannot be guaranteed. Safe spraying equipment, personal protective gear and well-trained personnel are needed in an IRS programme. In addition, issues regarding logistics, safety, acceptability and cost-effectiveness need to be considered.

Durable Lining (DL) has been developed as a long-lasting substitute for IRS. It provides protection against indoor resting mosquitoes and domestic pests in addition to improving domestic comfort.

The product ZeroVector® Durable Lining is simple - a thin sheet of woven shade cloth impregnated with insecticide is installed on the walls of a house to offer protection against diseases like malaria and dengue. Apart from inhibiting the spread of disease-transmitting vectors like mosquitoes and flies, it also controls other nuisance pests such as ants, cockroaches, termites and bedbugs.

Repeat intervention is a deterrent in the success of any public health programme. Therefore, ZeroVector® Durable Lining has been designed to remain efficacious for minimum three years. Being factory-treated, ensures uniform dosage regardless of texture or shape of the surface on which it is mounted. It can be applied in rural settings with minimal supervision. Moreover, it provides improved ability for programmes to identify, monitor and evaluate treated dwellings.

The difficulty of inducing sustained compliance with health-protecting behaviour is another common obstacle in public health initiatives⁵. Since ZeroVector® Durable Lining adds aesthetic value to the rural home interior, it is welcomed by home owners.

References

1. Townson, H. et al (2005) Exploiting the potential of vector control for disease prevention. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 83:942-947. http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/83/12/942.pdf
   
2. http://www.who.int/heli/risks/vectors/vector/en/index.html
   
3. Lengeler, C. (2004). Insecticide-treated bed nets and curtains for preventing malaria. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD000363. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000363.pub2.
4. Mabazo, M.L. et al (2004) Historical review of malarial control in southern African with emphasis on the use of indoor residual house-spraying. Trop Med Int Health. 9:846-56.
5. Miguel, E. et al (2007) The Long Run Impacts of a School Health Intervention in Kenya. (Unpublished working paper, U.C. Berkeley).