Entomological Surveillance and Vector Management Towards Malaria Elimination in India

Abstract

Entomological surveillance and vector control are interlinked and have been the core interventions towards malaria control or elimination. Entomological surveillance facilitates decision-making for an effective vector control strategy, selection of tools, and tackling insecticide resistance. India’s goal to eliminate malaria is to achieve zero indigenous cases by 2027 in all the districts and sustain it for 3 years. The strategic plan is primarily based on surveillance (epidemiological & entomological), parasite and vector management. The entomological surveillance in India is institutionalised through 103 entomological zones and additional support from a few identified institutes of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The vector control for malaria elimination includes larval source management (LSM) and adult control (reducing density and longevity). Targeting the aquatic immature stages of mosquitoes referred to as LSM is the core intervention in urban areas of the country. It focuses on permanent or temporary disruption of standing water and regular application of biological or chemical control to water bodies to eliminate or reduce larval density. Adult mosquito control is to achieve a reduction in vector survival (longevity) and vector density, interrupting malaria transmission. The use of LLINs and IRS is effective against endophagic and endophilic vectors. The updates on entomological surveillance and vector control interventions for malaria elimination have been described in this paper.

How to cite this article:
Sharma RS, Sharma SN, Srivastava PK. Entomological Surveillance and Vector Management Towards Malaria Elimination in India. XIV Annual Conference of Indian Society for Malaria & Other Communicable Diseases (ISMOCD). 2023;35-39.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202334