Mosquito Day: Protecting people againts malaria
Mosquito resistance threatens to undo gains
Malaria is a deadly disease. Nearly half of the world’s population is at risk of the disease, spread through the bites of female Anopheles mosquitoes. Malaria was responsible for the deaths of 435,000 people and 93% of these deaths occurred in Africa in 20171. So, this is a major threat to public health.
Malaria’s impact on agriculture
Malaria is an unforgiving disease. When a smallholder is infected with malaria during harvest, it’s estimated that crop yields fall by almost 50% on average, and this means people’s incomes can drop by that amount too. By developing products that fight malaria-transmitting mosquitoes, we help protect both farmers’ health and livelihoods, as well as local communities.
Mosquito resistance is building: the call for new solutions
Increased prevention and control measures have led to a significant reduction in malaria mortality rates globally since 2000. This is through the use of insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor sprays containing pyrethroid insecticides. However, mosquitoes have started to become resistant to these measures.
That’s why in 2009, we teamed up with the Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC), a global NGO leading the fight against malaria with the goal to eradicate this disease by 2040.
Working with the IVCC, we brought ACTELLIC® 300CS to the market. This is a long-lasting insecticide that helps to combat mosquito resistance and protects more people from malaria. ACTELLIC® 300CS works when it is sprayed on the interior walls of buildings. When a mosquito lands on the wall, it picks up a dose of insecticide and dies. A single application offers mosquito control for at least 9 months instead of the 2 to 3 months offered by conventional products . ACTELLIC® 300CS received a formal recommendation for use by the World Health Organization in 2013.
Committed to making the world a healthier place
ACTELLIC® 300CS has been used in 32 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. In 2017, it protected around 34 million people from malaria. Its use has reduced malaria transmission by an estimated 64% in Zimbabwe and up to 60% in Northern Ghana. In Central-West Senegal, the risk of malaria transmission was 14 times lower following applications of ACTELLIC® 300CS.
We’re committed to making the world a healthier place. That’s why we continue to work with IVCC to develop new solutions that will transform public health. We’re currently in the early development phase of a new active ingredient to combat mosquito resistance. Our work in protecting people against malaria showcases our commitment of contributing to the health and quality of life in the communities in which we work.