Impact of Insecticide Resistance on Malaria Control

by Danya Loutfi

Submitted : Fall 2011

Insecticide treated bed nets currently present the most efficient method of malaria control and prevention. The development of mosquito resistance to the ITN pesticide has the potential to dramatically undermine the success of this preventative tool. The relationship between the basic reproductive number for malaria and the effectiveness of the insecticide character of the ITN was evaluated by modifying the Ross model for R_o to include a multifaceted value for mosquito biting rate and taking the partial derivative of R_o with respect to the effectiveness of the insecticide function of the net. The results indicated that the rate of R_o increase with decreased insecticide effectiveness grew as the insecticide became less efficient. Thus each percent decrease in the effect of the insecticide has a larger effect on the R_o than the last.

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