Push-pull strategies for outdoor malaria control

Just outside their homes and during the evening when still awake, people are not protected against malaria mosquitoes. Wageningen entomologist conduct a small-scale field study in Kenya to evaluate whether fabric treated with mosquito repellent and wrapped around the eaves of a house can ‘push’ mosquitoes away from houses. In addition they use odour-baited mosquito traps to ‘pull’ mosquitoes away from people and remove them from the environment. This combination of push-pull is expected to reduce mosquito biting and provide protection outdoors and in the evening.