Vector Control

Despite progress in medical sciences and hygiene improvements, there is an alarming increase worldwide in vector-related infectious diseases. Even with the development of vaccines, vector control with insecticides and repellent compounds remains obligatory. Malaria, caused by Plasmodium sp. and transferred by Anopheles mosquitoes, is the most important vector-related disease worldwide, mainly in tropical and subtropical areas.

Every year millions of people die from this disease; many are children younger than five. Other important diseases for which mosquitoes are vector are yellow fever and Western Nile Virus, for which more than 60 mosquito species can act as a vector. Another important disease, Lyme disease, is caused by Borrelia, with ticks acting as the vector. In many regions of Europe, more than 10% of the ticks carry this pathogen.

Global warming, increasing tourism and the development of insecticide resistance are key factors in the further spread and growing impact of these diseases. Janssen Preservation & Material Protection is developing alternative control strategies that are more efficient and give longer protection than current technologies.