[Sterile insect technique: targeted control without insecticide].

Sterile insect technique (SIT) is a method of disease vector control technique that consists of releasing overwhelming numbers of sterile males. This method provides an environmentally friendly alternative to insecticides. Another advantage of SIT in comparison with other methods is to provide a targeted species-specific approach. In Reunion Island, SIT has been proposed as a basis for developing a viable method of vector control against Aedes albopictus and Anopheles arabiensis. The technique has already been successfully tested on fly and mosquito species for more than 40 years. The CRVOI (Centre de Recherche et de Veille sur les Maladies Emergentes dans l'Océan Indien) is carrying out studies to determine the feasibility of SIT for control of Anopheles arabiensis (vector of malaria) and Aedes albopictus (vector of chikungunya and dengue) on Reunion Island and other islands in the Indian Ocean region.