There is no official policy on the use of mosquito coils - WHO

Dr. Robert D. Newman, Director of the World Health Organization's Global Malaria Programme has told HealthNewsNG the global organization has no official position on the use of mosquito coils in the control of malaria. 

"We don’t have any official position on mosquito coils. I know they tend to be used by many individuals and there are different programs that have been put in place but we don’t have a formal recommendation on the use of coils," he told HealthNewsNG.

 He however revealed that the organization is aware of several studies that are analyzing data on the use of mosquito coils in different settings at centers in Africa and Asia. He said the results of the studies could help the organization in making an official pronouncement on the use of mosquito coils in the control of malaria.

"I know there are some ongoing studies on coils in a number of settings not just in Africa but also in some parts of Asia. But I don’t have the results of those studies. So I don’t have a formal position for the Global Malaria Program on the use of mosquito coils at this point," he said.

Mosquito coils are widely used in the control of malaria in Africa and other parts of the world. A study conducted in Taiwan however showed continual usage of mosquito coils could increase the risk of developing lung cancer.