Vector control

"For vector control of induction motors, see Motor controller"

Vector control is any method to limit or eradicate the mammals, birds or arthropods, insects which transmit disease pathogens.

The most frequent type of vector control is mosquito control using a variety of strategies, four of which are:

# Habitat control: stagnant water is avoided, by removal of old tires, empty cans etc., and better management of used water;
# Insecticides, spread over mosquito breeding zones, sprayed in houses, or impregnated in bednets;
# Introduction of sterilised male mosquitoes, in order to reduce the breeding rate.
# Larvicides.

The first method is to be recommended whenever possible for its cost-effectiveness.

Used worldwide in mosquito abatement programs since 1965, temephos is the standard of mosquito larvicides.