Vector control

Vector control is any method to limit or eradicate the vectorsof vector born diseases, for which the pathogen(e.g. virus orparasite) is transmitted by a vector which can be mammals, birdsor arthropods, especially insects, and more specifically mosquitoes.

The most frequent type of vector control is mosquito control, which uses a variety of strategies, three of which are:

1. Habitat control : stagnant wateris avoided, by removal of old tires, empty cans etc., and better management of used water;
2. Insecticides, spread over mosquito breeding zones;
3. Introduction of sterilised male mosquitoes, in order to reduce the vector breeding rate.

The first method is to be recommended whenever possible for its cost-effectiveness.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector+control Wikipedia article Vector control.