Improving the accuracy of entomological measures of risk for vector borne diseases

Mosquito-borne diseases are a significant global health problem. Despite large declines, malaria remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide (730,500 deaths in 2015), and, dengue-associated mortality is a growing concern, increasing 48.7% from 2005-2015. Interventions to reduce vector-human interactions have been key to the observed decline in malaria prevalence and incidence. However, randomised controlled trials of vector-control methods for Aedes-transmitted diseases have shown variable efficacy; both ITNs and indoor residual spraying had no significant impact on dengue risk. And insecticide resistance in anopheline and Aedes mosquitoes has been identified in numerous settings. Evaluating the efficacy of interventions that prevent vector-human interactions is therefore a public health priority.

The entomological inoculation rate (EIR), or average number of infectious bites per person per year, is primarily dependent on the vector age, extrinsic incubation period (EIP) of the virus or parasite and vector biting behaviour. This project will adopt a modelling approach in order to identifying the impacts of environmental change and intervention programs on the EIR and the mechanisms through which EIR changes.