As a vector control program to control Chagas disease in Guatemala, residual
spraying of
Rhodnius prolixus
and
Triatoma dimidiata
was performed, and its impact was measured in the department of Zacapa. In
order to identify infested villages and determine the degree of infestation,
a baseline entomological survey to identify municipalities infested with vectors
followed by an additional vector survey in areas known to be infested was conducted.
Residual spraying using pyrethroid insecticides was performed at all the villages
identified as being infested with the vectors. The residual spraying was shown
to be highly effective against both vectors by the decrease in infestation
indices after spraying. Analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the spraying
showed that the average cost of insecticides per house is high when compared
with that in Southern Cone countries.
