University hosts World Health Organisation vector control meeting

Posted 19 October 2017

Harper Adams University has hosted a World Health Organisation consultation meeting, to review and update guidance for Equipment for Vector Control.

The purpose of this guidance was to further standardise the specifications for major equipment used for application of pesticides for vector control.

Important additions include guidance on motorized knapsack mistblowers, aerosol dispensers and equipment for application of pesticide granules.

The meeting, at the end of September, was attended by WHO technical experts, representatives of equipment manufacturing industry and stakeholders in the use and manufacturing of vector control equipment.

Currently, vector control application equipment is procured by national vector-borne disease control programmes, public health organisations, UN agencies and pest control operators. The guidance developed from this consultation will be useful to these programmes and agencies in selecting quality assured equipment for vector control.

In addition, WHO is exploring opportunities to collaborate with the engineering department at Harper Adams, to develop a facility for testing quality of the pesticide application equipment complying with WHO specifications.