Taking aim at mosquitoes

摘要

No mosquitoes — no malaria. The insects are essential for transmitting the Plasmodium parasite, so for a century the mainstay of control was indoor residual spraying of insecticides. In the past decade, that has changed, and we have come to rely on antimalarial drugs as the main means of control. But with parasite resistance to cheap antimalarials growing, mosquito control is back on the agenda — and it will need new tools if it is to become a sustainable option.