A citizen science approach for malaria mosquito surveillance and control in Rwanda

• Published in: NJAS - Wageningen journal of life sciences Vol. 86-87; no. 1; pp. 101 - 110
• Main Authors: Murindahabi, Marilyn Milumbu, Asingizwe, Domina, Poortvliet, P. Marijn, van Vliet, Arnold J.H., Hakizimana, Emmanuel, Mutesa, Leon, Takken, Willem, Koenraadt, Constantianus J.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.11.2018
• Subjects: agricultural sciences; Citizen science; Community participation; Culicidae; insect vectors; malaria; Malaria vector surveillance; monitoring; mortality; Mosquito monitoring; Mosquito nuisance; Netherlands; pathogenicity; Rwanda; spatial distribution; vector control; Netherlands; Rwanda; Community participation; Mosquito monitoring; Malaria vector surveillance; Citizen science; Mosquito nuisance
• ISSN: 1573-5214; 2212-1307
• DOI: 10.1016/j.njas.2018.07.005

•A resurgence in malaria has been reported in Rwanda.•A citizen science approach for malaria and mosquito monitoring is proposed.•A web-based mosquito data collection platform supports mosquito ecology knowledge.•Citizen participation in mosquito control may enhance malaria control initiatives.•Public involvement in mosquito ecology is a sustainable avenue for malaria control. Despite the implementation of a number of interventions aimed at controlling malaria, Rwanda is experiencing a countrywide resurgence of simple malaria cases over the past five years. To support malaria control, mosquito surveillance activities, such as systematic reporting of the distribution, the diversity and the infectivity rate of malaria vectors throughout the country, have been undertaken. However, mosquito monitoring programmes are not carried out to monitor the impact of all vector control interventions or to determine the distribution of mosquito species in all areas, especially in the remote regions of the country. With a target of reducing malaria mortality by 2020, implementation of mosquito surveillance in those regions is urgently needed as well. In this paper, a Citizen science approach as a capacity resource for malaria vector monitoring for the Rwandan National Malaria Control Programme is presented. The ultimate aim is to complement existing mosquito surveillance currently in place by providing key information on the spatio-temporal distribution of mosquito nuisance and malaria vectors. This will contribute to an insight into the ecology of malaria vectors and thereby to a better understanding of malaria transmission patterns in Rwanda.