Mosquito Shield cuts malaria transmission rates
Marie Donlon | January 14, 2025A vector control tool for malaria — a mosquito-borne infectious disease — has been developed by researchers from the University of Notre Dame and Unitaid.
Developed and manufactured in conjunction with SC Johnson, the spatial repellent tool, dubbed the Mosquito Shield, is placed on an interior wall of an enclosed space where it emits an active ingredient that repels and immobilizes mosquitoes.
The Mosquito Shield reportedly reduced malaria infections by one-third when used in conjunction with insecticide-treated nets.
"This is a powerful result. There is no magic bullet for malaria, but a one-third additional decrease in transmission on top of mosquito nets could translate into tens of thousands of lives saved each year," said Dr. Bernard Nahlen, professor of biological sciences and director of the Eck Institute for Global Health at Notre Dame.
"Alongside insecticide-treated nets, rapid diagnosis, effective treatment and case management, this approach could reinforce protection for vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women, and displaced populations."
An article detailing the new tool, “Effect of a spatial repellent on malaria incidence in an area of western Kenya characterised by high malaria transmission, insecticide resistance, and universal coverage of insecticide treated nets (part of the AEGIS Consortium): a cluster-randomised, controlled trial,” which appears in the journal The Lancet.