Comparative study on the efficacy of lambdacyhalothrin and bifenthrin on torn nets against the malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi as assessed by tunnel test method.

Malaria is one of the most serious vector-borne diseases, affecting millions of people mainly in the tropics. In spite of major efforts undertaken for its control, through drug treatment and vector control, an increase in malaria incidence has occurred in the last 30 years, due to poor socio-economic conditions and development of drug and insecticide resistance in parasites and vectors, respectively1. Insecticide treated nets have been introduced in several countries for protection against mosquitoes and for malaria control. Treated nets not only provide a considerable degree of personal protection to individual net users, but, if used by whole community, can substantially reduce the infective vector population2. Insecticide treated bednets using pyrethroid insecticides are effective in reducing malaria morbidity and overall child mortality in a variety of epidemiological conditions3.