THE USE OF INSECTICIDES IN PUBLIC-HEALTH - PRESENT STATUS AND PROSPECTS

Insecticide control is an essential tool in the prevention of vector b orn diseases and pest control. In some cases, it is the only tool avai lable (dengue, Chagas disease), Significant progress has been made in the development of new and more selective control methods, based on co mmunity participation. They are better in tune with the decentralized policy of primary health care promoted by WHO. Pyrethroids are more an d more used for public health and agriculture as well, thus the risk f or resistance development in vectors should be seriously taken into ac count and the search for alternative insecticides encouraged.