It
may seem counter-intuitive at first but letting mosquitoes grow up and
breed may be part of the solution to tackling the devastating impact of
malaria. A team of researchers led by Dr Stephen Gourley of the
University of Surrey's Mathematics Department have used mathematical
modelling to examine why conventional insecticides used against the
insects that transmit the disease responsible for millions of deaths a
year, can quickly become ineffective in areas of intensive use. Their
answers may lead to unprecedented advances in malaria control.
Mosquitoes can become resistant to commonly used insecticides
surprisingly rapidly and spraying them while young simply imposes
intense selection pressure favouring resistant insects.
