Serological and molecular evidence of chikungunya virus infection among febrile outpatients seeking healthcare in Northern Malawi.

Despite global evidence of chikungunya fever (CHIKF) in humans that is caused by chikungunya virus (CHIKV), little is known about the occurrence of CHIKF in Malawi. This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of CHIKF and to molecularly confirm the presence of CHIKV ribonucleic acid (RNA) among febrile outpatients seeking health care at Mzuzu Central Hospital in the Northern Region of Malawi. Enzyme-immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the presence or absence of specific antibodies against CHIKV.

Effects of Indoor Environmental Factors and House Structures on Vaporization of Active Ingredient from Spatial Repellent Devices in Rural Houses in Malawi.

The use of a metofluthrin-impregnated spatial repellent device (MSRD) is a new and effective method for preventing mosquito blood feeding. Indoor environmental factors such as room temperature and ventilation rate are thought to be important for MSRD activity. Measurements of room temperature and vaporization of metofluthrin from MSRD in typical rural metal-roof and thatched-roof houses in southeastern Malawi were conducted.

Effect of Metofluthrin-Impregnated Spatial Repellent Devices Combined with New Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (Olyset Plus) on Pyrethroid-Resistant Malaria Vectors and Malaria Prevalence: Field Trial in South-Eastern Malawi.

Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) experience some operational problems that reduce their effectiveness, such as limited spaces for hanging, biting of mosquitoes outdoors, a shift of key biting time from midnight to dawn or dusk, and development of pyrethroid resistance in mosquitoes. The concept of spatial repellency may be a countermeasure to overcome the above issues. The effect of the combined use of metofluthrin-impregnated spatial repellent devices (MSRDs) and LLINs (Olyset Plus) on malaria prevalence and vector mosquitoes were examined in malaria endemic villages in south-eastern Malawi.

Beyond buzzing: mosquito watching stimulates malaria bednet use-a household-based cluster-randomized controlled assessor blind educational trial.

Malaria remains a severe health problem in Sub-Saharan Africa, with approximately one million deaths and 365 million cases each year. In terms of malaria control, insecticide-treated bednets are an effective tool, and many organizations have distributed free or highly subsidized bednets in malaria endemic areas. Nevertheless, some recipients do not use bednets because of social, environmental or cultural factors.

Influence on sensitivity to insecticides: a case study of a settled area and a game park in Liwonde.

The close proximity of Liwonde National Park to Liwonde town creates a unique situation of a large human population adjacent to a natural undisturbed animal reserve. The closeness of the two ecosystems has an impact on biology of mosquitoes of the area, such as susceptibility to insecticides. Susceptibility to insecticide was determined using knockdown bioassays.