The selection and use of pesticides in Bank financed public health projects

Vector, snail and rodent-borne diseases are responsible for a great deal of human morbidity and mortality in the tropical developing countries. Of the three methods for controlling tropical diseases, environmental, biological and chemical, pesticides are the best alternative. Whenever possible, however, these chemicals should be used in conjunction with environmental or biological methods and the appropriate drug or vaccine. Public health officials must be concerned that the compound chosen is safe for the user as well as inhabitants and domestic animals in the treated area. The method of control must also be appropriate for each targeted vector, because there are large biological differences among species. Some other considerations are that: (a) the chemical must be a narrow spectrum pesticide; (b) it should be effective in the proposed geographic area; (c) the target should be evaluated to check its resistance to a given chemical; and (d) the proposed pesticide must not pose a hazard to species that are not targeted.