Insecticide resistance monitoring

Overview

 Consultative meeting was opened by Dr D L Heymann, the Executive Director of the Cluster of Communicable Diseases (CDS), in the new WHO structure. He welcomed the participants, opened the meeting, and presented an overview on the new structural arrangements being planned in WHO, specifically in relation to the CDS and malaria control. Dr K. Behbehani, Director, Division of Control of Tropical Diseases (CTD), and Dr A V. Kondrachine, Chief, Malaria Unit, were present at the opening.

Dr Pushpa R. J. Herath, Scientist, Malaria Unit, presented the objectives of the meeting and the expected outcome of the discussions. She emphasised the importance of monitoring insecticide resistance in the malaria vectors, and pointed out that the reason for focusing the meeting on malaria vectors was because of an urgent need for updating a number of aspects of the test system for monitoring insecticide resistance and related aspects for malaria vectors.

Dr Herath also pointed out that there is a need for similar updating on the test procedures for the other disease vectors and pests, but that these could not be dealt with on this occasion.