How are pesticides helping to safeguard public health?

Vector control involves the reduction of a disease by targeting the vector that transmits and spreads that disease. The vector may be a rodent, an insect or any other organism – but insects are by far the most significant vectors, impacting the well-being not only of humans but also of wild animals and domestic livestock.

Pesticides make a vitally important contribution to public health programs across the world in controlling the pests and the diseases they transmit. The use of pesticides for controlling disease vectors has been proven highly effective and is consistently supported by the World Health Organization (WHO).

There are a variety of pesticide uses, from insecticides suitable for household use to control insects such as flies and cockroaches, to large-scale application to control mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit.

There are also rodenticides to manage mice and rat populations and herbicides for the management of weeds.

Vector control works most successfully when pesticides are used within an Integrated Vector Management (IVM) framework. IVM is defined by the WHO as a rational decision-making process for the optimal use of resources in the management of vector populations.