Why I spend my days raising mosquitoes

Every day, I walk into a room filled with mosquitoes. Unlike most people who strive to avoid them, my daily task is to raise, observe, and study these insects. At first glance, this might seem odd, but comprehending mosquitoes is crucial for evaluating the efficacy of malaria prevention methods. In 2024, malaria affected 282 million people, claiming 610,000 lives.

Most of these cases and fatalities occurred in Africa, with children under five accounting for three-quarters of all deaths. This data underscores the importance of ongoing malaria prevention initiatives. However, we are aware of what has been successful. According to the Malaria Atlas Project, malaria control measures have averted over 1.22 billion cases and 3.5 million deaths across Africa since 2000.

Their research found that insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) were the primary factor in this improvement, accounting for 72percent of cases prevented. This progress is noteworthy. Malaria prevention tools, such as ITNs and other vector-control strategies, have safeguarded millions of individuals. Emerging solutions, like dual-active ITNs and malaria vaccines, are further broadening our protective capabilities.

Yet, we cannot assume their efficacy. ITNs rely on mosquitoes' response to the insecticides within them. Mosquitoes adapt swiftly, developing resistance to insecticides and altering their behavior. These shifts impact the effectiveness of malaria prevention tools. Continuous monitoring and research are vital to stay ahead of mosquitoes, ensuring existing and future ITNs function optimally as mosquito populations evolve.

What many people do not witness is the scientific work that underpins an ITN. Before a mosquito net reaches a household, it has undergone years of research, thorough testing, and quality assurance. At the Vestergaard–Noguchi Vector Labs (VNVL) in Ghana, my team and I manage mosquito populations with varying insecticide-resistance traits.

We maintain and meticulously monitor these colonies, utilizing them for standardized laboratory tests of Vestergaard ITNs, including PermaNet Dual, a recent-generation ITN. This effort supports quality assurance and product development by providing reliable data on how our nets perform against the mosquito populations they target.

Much of this work remains unseen, yet it is crucial in ensuring our ITNs perform as anticipated. This year, we will commemorate 15 years of collaboration between Vestergaard and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, which has bolstered and maintained technical expertise in entomological testing in Ghana. Besides laboratory facilities, the partnership has fostered specialized skills in mosquito rearing, laboratory testing of ITNs, and insecticide resistance monitoring.

The writer is the Laboratory Manager at Vestergaard–Noguchi Vector Labs. Last year, this commitment was strengthened by a Memorandum of Understanding between Vestergaard, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, and the Ghana National Malaria Elimination Program, further solidifying public-private collaborations towards Ghana’s Malaria elimination target.

Each mosquito we examine and each net we assess has a purpose beyond the laboratory: ensuring that the products people depend on continue to work effectively. On World Mosquito Day, I am reminded that combating malaria is a collective effort, and my role contributes to it. However, more is needed. Protecting people from a disease that evolves alongside them and continues to endanger millions is not just about the tools we employ, but also about safeguarding communities at risk.

The more we understand the mosquito and its changes, the better equipped we are to protect those most vulnerable.