Recommendations for building out mosquito-transmitted diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: the DELIVER mnemonic

Lindsay, Steven W.; Davies, Michael; Alabaster, Graham; Altamirano, Hector; Jatta, Ebrima; Jawara, Musa; Carrasco-Tenezaca, Majo; von Seidlein, Lorenz; Shenton, Fiona C.; Tusting, Lucy S.; Wilson, Anne L.; Knudsen, Jakob

Abstract

In sub-Saharan Africa, most transmission of mosquito-transmitted diseases, such as malaria or dengue, occurs within or around houses. Preventing mosquito house entry and reducing mosquito production around the home would help reduce the transmission of these diseases. Based on recent research, we make key recommendations for reducing the threat of mosquito-transmitted diseases through changes to the built environment. The mnemonic, DELIVER, recommends the following best practices: (i) Doors should be screened, self-closing and without surrounding gaps; (ii) Eaves, the space between the wall and roof, should be closed or screened; (iii) houses should be Lifted above the ground; (iv) Insecticide-treated nets should be used when sleeping in houses at night; (v) houses should be Ventilated, with at least two large-screened windows to facilitate airflow; (vi) Environmental management should be conducted regularly inside and around the home; and (vii) Roofs should be solid, rather than thatch. DELIVER is a package of interventions to be used in combination for maximum impact. Simple changes to the built environment will reduce exposure to mosquito-transmitted diseases and help keep regions free from these diseases after elimination.

Citation

Lindsay, S. W., Davies, M., Alabaster, G., Altamirano, H., Jatta, E., Jawara, M., Carrasco-Tenezaca, M., von Seidlein, L., Shenton, F. C., Tusting, L. S., Wilson, A. L., & Knudsen, J. (2021). Recommendations for building out mosquito-transmitted diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: the DELIVER mnemonic. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 376(1818), Article 20190814. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2019.0814

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 30, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Dec 28, 2020
• Publication Date: Feb 15, 2021
• Deposit Date: Mar 24, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 24, 2021
• Journal: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
• Print ISSN: 0962-8436
• Electronic ISSN: 1471-2970
• Publisher: The Royal Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 376
• Issue: 1818
• Article Number: 20190814
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2019.0814
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1250521