Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) have been the cornerstone of malaria prevention for the past two decades, and their widespread use has played a critical role in preventing the disease and saving lives. Since 2000, global malaria control efforts, including ITN campaigns, have prevented more than 2 billion cases of malaria and nearly 13 million deaths.
Despite some progress, malaria-transmitting mosquitoes in many regions have developed resistance to the insecticides commonly used in insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs), particularly pyrethroids. This has reduced the effectiveness of the insecticides and undermined progress in malaria prevention. This growing threat has prompted researchers to accelerate the development of new bed nets that provide longer-lasting protection against malaria.
In 2018, UNITAID and the Global Fund launched the New Nets project, led by the Coalition for Innovative Malaria Vector Control, in close collaboration with national malaria programmes and other partners, including the US President’s Malaria Initiative, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and MedAccess. The project supports evidence generation and pilot projects to accelerate the transition to dual-insecticide-treated mosquito nets in sub-Saharan Africa to address pyrethroid resistance.
The networks were first deployed in Burkina Faso in 2019, and then in Benin, Mozambique, Rwanda and the United Republic of Tanzania to test their effectiveness in different contexts.
By the end of 2022, the New Mosquito Nets project, in partnership with the Global Fund and the US President’s Malaria Initiative, had installed more than 56 million mosquito nets in 17 countries in sub-Saharan Africa where insecticide resistance has been documented.
Clinical trials and pilot studies have shown that dual-action insecticide-treated nets are 20–50% more effective in controlling malaria than standard nets containing only pyrethroids. Furthermore, clinical trials in the United Republic of Tanzania and Benin have shown that nets containing both pyrethroids and chlorfenapyr significantly reduce malaria incidence in children aged 6 months to 10 years.
Strengthening surveillance, monitoring and management of biological threats such as insecticide resistance, invasive species and changes in vector behaviour are critical to containing and ultimately eliminating malaria transmission. It is equally important to invest in innovative tools to address these emerging challenges.
Scaling up and monitoring mosquito nets, vaccines and other innovative new technologies requires continued investment in malaria control and elimination programmes, including ensuring replenishment of the Global Fund and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
In addition to new bed nets, researchers are developing a range of innovative vector control tools, such as insect repellents, lethal home baits (curtain rod tubes), and genetically engineered mosquitoes.
Post time: Sep-11-2025