Evaluation of lambdacyhalothrin-impregnated bednets in a malaria endemic area of India. Part 3. Effects on malaria incidence and clinical measures.

In Indian villages with high malaria endemicity use of nylon bednets treated at 25 mg/m2 at 6-month intervals for 3 years caused significant reductions in malaria incidence, slide positivity rate, slide falciparum rate, annual parasite index, and parasite rate in the entire population, as well as reductions in rates of splenomegaly and anemia in children. In villages with untreated nets, considerable reduction also occurred in these parameters except for the rate of splenomegaly. In the village without nets, a relatively small drop occurred in the parasite rate and anemia but no change occurred in malaria incidence, and an increase occurred in the rate of splenomegaly. The trial thus showed the efficacy of impregnated bednets against malaria in the forested hills of Orissa State where the existing control strategy based on indoor residual spraying of DDT has remained incapable of interrupting malaria transmission.