Kenya turns to pyrethrum in war on malaria

Kenya is set to replace synthetic insecticides in the market with pyrethrum-based products in its latest bid to contain malaria, which claims about 23,000 lives annually.

The Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) on Monday said it would undertake a study on the possibility of developing the insecticides from locally grown pyrethrum flowers in what could open a new market outlet to hundreds of farmers.

The move comes in the wake of Health ministry research findings indicating that the pyrethroids in use cannot kill about 60 per cent of malaria-causing mosquitoes.

Kemri director Solomon Mpoke said the research will assess the effectiveness of an alternative insecticide since mosquitoes have begun developing resistance towards synthetic pyrethrum.

“This is a problem that we are really concerned about. If it’s not addressed we will lose a major lifeline for malaria control and prevention in this country,” Prof Mpoke said.

READ: Malaria mosquitoes now resistant to insecticides

These pyrethroids are used in indoor sprays and treating bed nets with the aim of killing female anopheles mosquitoes that spread malaria.

A pyrethrum plant in the country will benefit from the experience of the Pyrethrum Board of Kenya (now Pyrethrum Directorate) which has been producing natural insecticide on trial basis.

Statistics show that use of insecticide-treated bed nets cut malaria transmission by 50 per cent among those vulnerable to the disease such as children and pregnant women.

Aside from boosting malaria control strategies, Prof Mpoke said that the use of natural pyrethrum will increase earnings in the pyrethrum industry thus benefiting farmers.