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Table 1 Overview of the vector control methods currently used for the prevention and control of outbreaks of WNV infection

From: A review of the vector management methods to prevent and control outbreaks of West Nile virus infection and the challenge for Europe

   

Suggested use3

Activities

Target environments

Products and equipment

Prevention

Outbreak control

Targeting the mosquito larvae 1

Environmental management and source reduction

artificial wetlands, hunting farms, lagoons, recreational, rice fields, irrigation canals, urban environments

Ground equipment, excavators, mowers, pumps

+++

Part of IVM programme

Chemical

Breeding sites as specified in the insecticide label

According to WHO guidelines and EU regulations:

++

Part of IVM programme

S-Methoprene, Diflubenzuron, Pyriproxyfen, Triflumuron

Biological

artificial wetlands, lagoons, rice fields, irrigation canals, urban environments

Gambusia (where allowed), native fish species, Macrocyclops

++

Part of IVM programme

Microbial and others

wetlands, lagoons, rice fields, irrigation canals, urban environments

According to WHO guidelines and EU regulations

++

Part of IVM programme

Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, Bacillus sphaericus, Spinosad

Community participation

inhabited areas

Insecticide formulations for domestic use

+

Part of IVM programme

Targeting the adult mosquitoes 2

Aerial adulticide treatments

Outbreak area

Aerial ULV

Not allowed

Not allowed (specific exemption in extraordinary cases only)

Ground adulticide treatments (ULV or LV)

Outdoors, outbreak area

According to WHO guidelines and EU regulations

Not suggested

++

Mass trapping

domestic use in inhabited areas

attractive traps selective for mosquito

-

-

Personal protection measures

any environment during mosquito activity peak in case of West Nile virus risk

mosquito screen over windows, space or topical repellents, protective clothes

+++

+++

  1. 1The suggested use of vector control methods targeting the mosquito larvae refers to the impact on the vector population. The impact in reducing the WNV transmission is not well known; 2The suggested use of vector control methods targeting the adult mosquitoes refers to the impact on WNV transmission; 3+++ highly useful; ++ useful; + potentially useful in some circumstances; - currently no evidence of usefulness.
  2. IVM: integrated Vector management; ULV: Ultra Low Volume.