Introduction
In the world, vectors are primary host for diseases pathogens. Vectors are very important in spread of diseases because they act as intermediate host to pathogen, also help in completion of pathogen life cycle. Control of vector by epidemiology has shown result in reduction of infections that spread by vectors. Epidemiology is a branch of science that deals with diseases and there control. Below is a summary of surveillance and control of some vectors.
Vector surveillance
Dengue virus is always associated with mosquitoes Aedes Aegyptis and these is the main target in control and the surveillance of this diseases. Surveillance is done to determine the changes that may be geographical distribution of vectors as well as well as their densities. These surveillance methods also evaluate the methods of control, looking at the population of vectors over time also the appropriate time to make the intervention decisions. This process also involves looking for the areas of high density and the time in which the population of these vectors increase (Mehlhorn 2012). Different methods can be applied to detect the adult population of these vectors. What is consider in choosing the method of sampling is always dependent on the surveillance objective, what is the level of infestation, availability of the funds and skilled man power to initiate the project. Example of vectors surveillance is mosquitoes for dengue and malaria., Tsetse flies in the tropics region for human sleeping sickness rodent like rats act as vectors to Hantarus pulmonary syndrome other vectors that are common in marshy environment are the water snail that are vectors to pathogen that causes bilharzias. The above are just some of the diseases that are caused by vectors among many more.
Control of vectors
One of the most effective methods to control vectors can be through the management of the environment. some of ways in which environment can be managed so as to control the vectors include the act of manipulating the environmental factors with an aim of reducing the propagation of vectors and the contact between the human and the vectors. In Asia and America, some mosquitoes that cause dangues always breed in manmade container contrary to Africa in which they breed where they breed in nature such as trees and holes (Juang, 2001). Through environmental manipulation it has reduced the population of these vectors because they can n longer breed.
The other ways that have been put in place to control these vectors are the chemical methods. Control of mosquito vectors and other kind of insects vectors is always achieved through use of insecticides, which always help reduce there number and as result the contact that is between the pathogens and human. In cases of water snail, which are vectors to pathogen that causes bilharzias the use of molucsides, has proven to be an effective method in control of these vectors and as a result control of bilharzias since the pathogens die if they do not get a intermediate host for completion of their life cycle (Juang, 2001). Good example of these is initiatives that are done by world health organization to control mosquitoes using insecticides in the ways that are environmental friendly.
Biological control of vectors has also been an effective method to eliminate vectors in the world. For mosquitoes and other vectors, that their pupa stage lives in water can be controlled biologically by the use of fish that feed on the larvae or the ducks that also feed on these larvae. In case of rodent that is vectors to diseases the most effective way to control these vectors is through the introduction of predators to control their population. Through this biological control, the contact n between human and pathogens is reduced.
References:
Mehlhorn, H. (2012). Arthropods as vectors of emerging diseases.
Juang, J.-N., & Phan, M. Q. (2001). Identification and control of mechanical systems. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press
