Vector-borne diseases are among the major causes of illness and death in the WHO South-East Asia Region. Vector control plays a key role in prevention and control of major vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, leishmaniasis and chikungunya, and often constitutes the first line of activity in case of epidemics. Chemical control (use of pesticides) is still the most important element in the integrated approach to vector control.

More than 3200 metric tons of active ingredient of DDT (about 80% of the global use of this pesticide), 225 tonnes of active ingredient of organophosphates and about 30 tonnes of active ingredient of pyrethroids have been used annually for vector-borne disease control in the South-East Asia Region during 2006-2007 [1]. The use of DDT has been for malaria and leishmaniasis vector control in India, while organophosphates and pyrethroids were applied against vectors of malaria, leishmaniasis, dengue and filariasis in the Region.