In order to promote research on vectors and to develop a common platform for all vector biologists, entomologists, programme people and experts embarking upon common issues, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has constituted a Vector Science Forum.

Senior officials in the ICMR said that emerging and re-emerging vector borne diseases (VBD) such as dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, chandipura virus, nipah viruses, malaria, filariasis, and visceral leishmaniasis are posing a great challenge to researchers, disease control programme planners and implementers in the country. The current vector control strategies are proving insufficient and the major advances in the molecular biology of disease vectors over the last two decades have yet to result in tangible tools that effectively reduce VBD incidence.

Hence, there is an immediate need that vector biologists must fundamentally shift their approach to VBD research. Research priorities will be diversified to support simultaneous development of multiple, alternative control strategies and knowledge across relevant diseases and disciplines should be better integrated for effective disease prevention, officials said.

The ICMR has already invited research proposals from the scientists in the country. As per terms of reference of this Forum, priority areas for research have been identified.

The priority areas of research in malaria include studies on vector bioecology in the entire country including north eastern states like Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam as well as other states like Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa. Studies are required on vector ecology and behaviour, vector bionomics, blood meal feeding preferences, resting habits (exophilic/endophilic), breeding habitats, impact of ecological changes on the vector populations, vector competence, vector population dynamics, cytotaxonomic studies identifying major vectors as species complexes and laboratory and field studies to examine the same.

The priority areas of research in dengue and chikungunya include mapping of all breeding sites of dengue and chikungunya vectors as preliminary studies conducted by NIMR have revealed that there is shift of Aedes, the vector of dengue and chikungunya breeding from indoor during pre-monsoon season to outdoor during monsoon and post-monsoon season.

Priority areas of research in Japanese encephalitis include evaluation of Biological Control Agents and Insecticide Treated Mosquito Curtains/Nets for JE control: Use of larvivorous fish and neem cake in rice fields were evaluated earlier and found to be effective with certain limitations.