The burden of vector-borne disease continues to be a major public health problem in the Region, expanding geographically and seasonally, and yet the coverage of key vector control interventions remains low in some countries. In such countries the choices of interventions are limited and the availability of the infrastructure and national capacity required to deliver the few interventions available is a big challenge. This has also been compromised by the detection of vector resistance to insecticides––including pyrethroids––the current group of insecticides of choice. This not only limits the choice of insecticides but also increases the financial burden on already constrained programmes. Following the endorsement of integrated vector management by Member States (resolution EM/RC52/R.6), nine countries have seriously embarked on implementation of this approach. This represents almost 80% of the high-risk countries.

Extract from the Regional Director's report, 2006