title: In-flight disinsection as an efficacious procedure for preventing international transport of insects of public health importance.
abstract: Aircraft disinsection with aerosol insecticides during flight has generally been held to be inadvisable because it was assumed that the insecticides would be rapidly removed by the cabin air-conditioning system. We have developed protocols to deliver 2% d-phenothrin at a dose of 35 g per 100 m3 in various aircraft, and trials undertaken on Boeing 747 and 767 aircraft showed that their air-conditioning systems do not preclude effective disinsection. Mortality levels of 100% for Culex quinquefasciatus and Musca domestica test insects were recorded under normal operating conditions during routine scheduled passenger flights with disinsection procedures undertaken at "blocks-away" or at "top-of-descent". As a result, "top-of-descent" disinsection has been introduced as the recommended procedure for aircraft landing in Australia.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001359:Aviation; D007306:Insecticides; D007391:International Cooperation; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D011722:Pyrethrins; D014195:Travel
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D011722:Pyrethrins; C006166:phenothrin