Quality control of insecticide-treated mosquito nets in Benin

A recent study carried out at the Cotonou Entomological Research Centre has shown that insecticide-treated bed nets, when removed from their packaging and immediately tested on populations of Anopheles gambiae that are sensitive to insecticides, resulted in only a low mortality rate, contrary to the expected rate of 100 per cent. It is therefore possible that not all mosquito nets distributed or sold in Benin meet WHO standards. This hypothesis guided our research, the aim of which was to assess the quality and durability of mosquito nets used in Benin as part of the fight against tropical diseases. During this study, 80 samples of new insecticide-treated bed nets from various locations in Benin underwent various entomological efficacy and physical durability tests. In parallel with this assessment, 84 new Olyset® bed nets were subjected to community washing practices and then tested. The results of the quality control tests show that the majority of the bed nets sampled do not meet the efficacy and durability standards set by the WHO.