J. Pestic. Sci., 32(2), 69–76 (2007)

Mosquito borne diseases such as malaria and dengue cause extensive morbidity and mortality and are a major economic burden within disease-endemic countries. Control of both these diseases, which in most countries are primarily transmitted in and around the home, is difficult. Malaria and dengue are effectively managed through a combination of vector control, drugs and management of clinical illness. Although drug and vaccine development for malaria and dengue have recently received much attention, there have been few initiatives on vector control. Malaria is the most important parasitic disease of humans. Over 3 billion people live in malarious areas and the disease causes between 1 to 3 million deaths per year 4,5) with morbidity reaching 515 million cases. This disease is resurging and both increased drug resistance of the parasite and increased insecticide resistance of the Anopheles mosquito vectors are contributing to this. Malaria vector control relies on the use of an effective insecticide, most commonly through indoor residual spraying (IRS) or community-based deployment of insecticide impregnated bednets (ITN). There are numerous cases of insecticide resistance reported for Anopheles species. Dengue is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Up to 2.5 billion people live under threat of dengue, with 50 million new infections and 24,000 deaths reported annually. Most Aedes control relies on the application of larvicides and insecticide space spays. Aedes aegypti, the main dengue vector, often breeds in drinking water. There are 5 insecticides approved by the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) for application to drinking water. Since the 1970’s the organophosphate, temephos has been the most widely used insecticide, but increased resistance and lack of community acceptance has reduced the efficacy of this insecticide. Extensive exposure of insect vectors to insecticides eventually selects for insecticide resistance. An understanding of the basis of insecticide resistance and how to manage it, is needed if chemical control is to be used, either in isolation, or as part of an integrated pest management strategy. The economics of developing, safely testing and marketing insecticides means that few novel compounds are likely to be developed for the control of disease vectors. Hence good stewardship of available public health insecticides, through active monitoring and management of resistance levels in field populations of insects is essential. Insecticide resistance monitoring and evaluation in disease transmitting mosquitoes