General information
Insecticides used to reduce the incidence of crawling and flying insects in situations where insects have become a public health hazard.
Deltamethrin and permethrin are synthetic pyrethroid insecticides with residual effects, depending on their use and application rate. Synthetic pyrethroids are highly toxic to fish, but have very low mammalian toxicity (i.e., deltamethrin LD50 in rats is 135mg/kg of body weight, and much lower for solutions).
Deltamethrin and permethrin are not considered to be very dangerous and can be handled by personnel observing routine safety measures (i.e., gloves, mask and eyes and face protection).
Major difference between the 2 products:
- Deltamethrin is used for large spraying campaigns. It cannot be used in its powder form directly on the skin.
- Permethrin can be used in its powder form directly on the skin.
Current usage:
- Residual adulticide treatment against mosquitoes, houseflies, fleas, bedbugs and cockroaches.
- Impregnation of bed nets.
- Dusting (bait) against fleas and cockroaches.
- Dusting against body lice (permethrin only).
- Lotions and shampoos for lice.
- Powders requiring water dilution cannot be used when dusting clothes for body lice.
- Rates of application depend on the vector, formulation used, specific treatment chosen and targeted substrate. For advise on specific application rates, contact a local company specialized in vector control, an MoH specialists or a technical advisers from HQ.
A large vector-control program must be organized by a specialist.
Use of an insecticide must be authorized by national authorities (MoH).
Despite an international ban, some older types of insecticide, like DDT, are still available in some places. Do not use these products.
Specifications
Commercial names of deltamethrin include: K-otrine, Decamethrin, NRDC161, Cistin and Decis. They are available on the market in the following formulations:
- Water-dispersible powders: 2.5% and 5.0%
- Emulsifiable concentrates: 2.5% and 5.0%
Commercial names of permethrin include: Ambush, Coopex, Stomoxin. They are available on the market in the following formulations:
- Dusting powders: 0.5% and 1%
- Water-dispersible powders: 2.5%
- Emulsifiable concentrates: 2.5% and 5.0%