WHO Backs Spatial Emanators as New Malaria Control Tool, Prequalifies First Two Products
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
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Institutions: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
The World Health Organization issued a conditional recommendation endorsing the use of indoor spatial emanators - spatial repellents - as a complementary malaria vector control intervention alongside insecticide-treated nets. Designed to release active agents like transfluthrin into enclosed spaces, these devices deter and kill mosquitoes, offering protection when individuals are active at home during the day.
WHO also prequalified the first two such products - Mosquito Shield and Guardian, both by SC Johnson & Son - certifying their safety, quality, and efficacy and enabling procurement by UN agencies and member states.
WHO emphasised that spatial emanators represent the first new class of vector control tool in decades, introduced amid rising insecticide resistance and shifting mosquito behaviours. These emanators remain effective for periods ranging from one month to 12 months, allowing flexible deployment settings.
While the new recommendation marks a pivotal shift, WHO highlighted remaining evidence gaps, particularly regarding standalone efficacy, use in humanitarian emergencies, and impact on insecticide resistance. Research partners are now mobilizing efforts to address these uncertainties and assess broader applications, including dengue control.
Relevant question for policy stakeholders: How can India integrate spatial emanator technology within its malaria control strategy - ensuring quality evaluation, operational deployment, and adaptation to local ecosystems - to enhance vector control amidst growing resistance?
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