Malaria prevalence and morbidity in relation to the use of permethrin-treated wall cloths in Kenya.

The effect of permethrin-treated wall cloths (Mbu cloth) on malaria parasitaemia prevalences and malaria morbidity, was evaluated in a population of over 10,000 for a period of three years in the Marigat area, Baringo District, Kenya. The use of the treated cloth in 2,000 houses resulted in significantly lower rates of malaria parasite prevalences with an overall reduction rate of 73% (P < 0.001) in the treated area. Control areas had an initial increase in rate of malaria parasite prevalence of 30% and later a reduction of 31%. There was a slight reduction in spleen rates in the control and treated areas but it was not significant for either between the surveys or among the villages.