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Nets for protection against mosquito bites

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Nets for protection against mosquito bites

  • if sleeping outdoors or in unscreened accommodation, insecticide-treated mosquito nets should be used

  • protective efficacy against malaria for travellers has been estimated at 50%

  • mosquito bed nets must be free of tears and should be tucked in under the mattress

  • insecticide (pyrethroid)-impregnated bed nets improve protection because they help to prevent
    • (a) biting through the net on parts of the body touching the net,
    • (b) mosquitoes surviving long enough near a net to find any tears in the net which may exist
    • (c) diversion of mosquitoes from someone under a net to someone in the same room without a net

  • most of the nets now available are long-lasting impregnated nets. In these products the pyrethroid is incorporated into the material of the net itself or bound to it with a resin
    • have an expected useful life of at least 3 years
    • if using standard nets these will need to be re-impregnated every 6 to 12 months (depending on how frequently the net is washed) to remain effective
    • if a traveller purchases a standard impregnated net, the 6 months starts from the date when it starts to be used and washed, as washing and handling are the main factors removing the pyrethroid

Reference:

  • Public Health England. Guidelines for malaria prevention in travellers from the UK 2019

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