Operational feasibility and bio-efficacy of alphacypermethrin (Fendona) treated jute curtains to control urban malaria in a slum settlement of Delhi, India.

Operational feasibility and bio-efficacy of alphacypermethrin treated curtains was evaluated in slum settlements of Andrews Ganj, New Delhi. Jute curtains treated with alphacypermethrin @ 100 mg/m2 were fixed on windows, doors and eves before on set of transmission and evaluations were carried out for two years. Entomological evaluation revealed that jute curtains treated with alphacypermethrin in Slum-I resulted drastic reduction in daytime indoor resting mosquitoes such as An. stephensi, Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus. Similarly, malaria incidence also reduced in the treated curtain used area when compared to that of in untreated curtain and without curtain areas. Bioassay tests on An. stephensi and Cx. quinquefasciatus showed that alphacypermethrin could produce > 70 per cent mortality up to six months in case of An. stephensi--a principal urban malaria vector and hence two rounds of treatment are sufficient in an year to protect inhabitants from malaria. The study indicates alphacypermethrin treated curtains could curtail malaria transmission in slum settlements and is operationally feasible in small houses and is also cost-effective.