House Screening - Biological and Environmental Control of Disease Vectors - page 136

roof space. This is important to the perception
of the ei cacy of screened ceilings because
ceilings (particularly if they are white in colour)
increase the visibility of mosquitoes indoors
(Kirby et al ., 2010). Other three-dimensional
ceiling architectures need to be evaluated: there
is potential for structurally complex textiles that
would permanently trap mosquitoes in the roof
space or induce mortality by physical means.
Windows screened with UV-resistant rigid
plastic or non-corrodible metal mesh should be
positioned to receive maximum protection from
the overhanging roof, and be large enough to
promote airfl ow when open, so as to disrupt
olfactory gradients. Doorways should be fi tted
with two doors, a secure outer door that can be
locked at night for security and privacy, and an
inner wooden-framed door with screening
covering the maximum surface area possible.
The inner door should be fi tted to close
automatically (on springs or hinges) to prevent
vector house entry, but maximize ventilation
during daytime hours when the outer door is left
open. Repellent plants, such as Lantana camara ,
planted below windows and next to doors, are a
cheap yet highly ef ective way of keeping
mosquitoes away from entry points (Mng'ong'o
et al ., 2011) and would work in tandem with
screening (see Lorenz et al ., Chapter 4, this
volume).
At the family level, a house built along such
guidelines would gain in value, could be (re-)sold
easily and could perhaps even be used as capital
to secure loans. The lifetime of the house would
be improved and therefore the protection
af orded against vector house entry would be
increased. Finally, houses are held in greater
esteem where the occupants are involved in all
stages of development and construction
(Briceno-Leon, 1987). While a community

protective ef ect may not be anticipated for
unscreened houses nearby screened houses
(Gunawardena et al ., 1998), household struc-
tures on a wide scale could transform local
economies, improving the skill base and creating
a new sector of employment. This in turn will
help to promote community participation in
other integrated vector management pro-
grammes and reduces the culture of expectation
and dependence on the state for bed net, drug
and IRS campaigns.

7.7 Conclusions

House screening is a simple yet ef ective control
measure against house entry by host-seeking
vectors. It can be incorporated into integrated
vector management approaches and can be a
fl agship for community-led intervention
programmes, because it is widely accepted and
appreciated at a community level, is simple to
install and does not rely on insecticides. As a
result it can be used even when insecticide
resistance compromises other vector control
ef orts. With technological and manufacturing
improvements, screening materials will become
more af ordable and available, and it is
anticipated that screening will become an
integral part of house construction and vector
control programmes in the future.

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to acknowledge the
comments and contributions of Seth Irish, Steve
Lindsay, Lorenz von Seidlein, Ayubo Kampango,
Derek Charlwood, Mary Cameron and Lena
Lorenz to earlier drafts of the chapter.

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