The use of long-lasting insecticide-treated materials (LL-ITMs) is emerging as a new promising method to prevent dengue virus transmission in the home environment

Benefits of "Casa Segura" approach with use of LL-ITMs to protect homes, schools etc from the dengue virus vector Aedes aegypti:

1. Low cost for long-term protection
2. Can be implemented by vector control programs as well as individual homeowners
3. Potential for protection against other arthropod vectors as well as "nuisance biters"

Use of insecticide-treated curtains or screens to protect homes from Aedes aegypti:

• Nam and others. 1994. Permethrin-treated bamboo curtains for dengue vector control – field trial.
  Dengue Newsletter 18: 23-28 (permethrin-treated bamboo curtains, Viet Nam)
  


• Nguyen and others. 1996. The effect of Olyset net screen to control the vector of dengue fever in Viet Nam.
  Dengue Bulletin 20: 87-92 (permethrin-treated Olyset net screen, Viet Nam)
  


• Madarieta and others. 1999. Use of permethrin-treated curtains for control of Aedes aegypti in the Philippines.
  Dengue Bulletin 23: 51-54 (permethrin-treated curtains, Philippines)
  


• Kroeger and others. 2006. Effective control of dengue vectors with curtains and water container covers treated with insecticide in Mexico and Venezuela.
  British Medical Journal 332: 1247-1252 (lambdacyhalothrin-treated curtains in Agua Dulce, Veracruz, Mexico & deltamethrin-treated curtains made from PermaNet in Trujillo, Venezuela)
  


• Lenhart et al. 2008. Insecticide-treated bednets to control dengue vectors: Preliminary evidence from a controlled trial in Haiti.
  Tropical Medicine and International Health 13: 56-67. (permethrin-treated Olyset bednets in Haiti)
  

• We are in the process of initiating "Casa Segura" studies in Merida and Monterrey, Mexico, where long-lasting insecticide-treated materials will be used to protect the home environment from Aedes aegypti and other mosquitoes.
  


• These studies are conducted in collaboration between the Dengue Decision Support System project and business partners with expertise in insecticides (Bayer Environmental Science; http://www.bayercropscience.com/cs/cscms.nsf/id/EnvironmentalScience) and textile manufacturing (Acytex Internacional; http://www.acytex.com.mx/).