The facts regarding Equip treated mosquito nets:

• All treated nets supplied by Equip are treated properly by a specialised laboratory, Daly Laboratories, located in Perth, Western Australia.  The quality of the impregnation process is controlled by a strict internal quality system, which is overseen by Equip.   For information on Daly Laboratories please visit www.dalylabs.com.au

• Equip voluntarily dates their treated nets with a conservative 2 year “Best Before” guideline.  Most other treated nets in the market have no treatment date details, no treatment quality statement, and no details about who and where the treatment was conducted.

• Treated nets by Equip are suitable for retail sale for at least 2 years following the Permethrin treatment date.

• Equip factory treated nets are effective for up to 3 years, or a conservative six washes, due to the method and chemicals involved in the impregnation process.  Please note that Equip factory treated nets are treated using specific emulsifying chemicals with permethrin (insecticide).

• Research indicates that the loss of permethrin (insecticide) from treated mosquito nets to be approx 5% over a 6 month period (when kept in a sealed bag).  It is recommended that Equip treated nets be stored in a sealed plastic bag when not in use, for maximum effectiveness.

• All quality mosquito nets (i.e. all nets supplied by Equip) can be treated repetitively using DeBugger, the Permethrin self treatment kit available from Equip.  Nets treated using the DeBugger are effective for up to twelve months or six washes.

• There are other treated mosquito nets available on the Australian & International markets.  Equip Health Systems Pty Ltd are the experts in travel health.  Our Medical Director has over 20 years experience in travel medicine.  In our opinion other manufacturers are making unrealistic and dangerous claims regarding the effectiveness of their treated nets.  Do not risk your health, use only Equip treated mosquito nets!

Articles from the World Health Organisation Indicate that white treated mosquito nets are more effective than coloured treated mosquito nets.

An interesting recommendation appears in an article issued by the World Health Organisation  (WHO) based on research conducted by WHO with UNICEF on two major net manufacturers (not Equip) which was published in September 2003:  “There is evidence of high variability of insecticide concentration in factory pre-treated nets.  Observed concentrations have been lower or much lower than expected.”  “Control programmes and institutional buyers are advised, wherever possible, to avoid the purchase of factory pre-treated nets…”  WHO does recommend treated nets as opposed to non-treated.  However, it is clear from this article that the quality of the actual treatment is very important, and that at least two large net manufacturers produce treated nets that are of questionable quality.  Equip, with the help of Daly Laboratories, has a strict internal quality system so as to ensure the quality of the impregnation process. 

Also highlighted in the WHO article is that white treated nets are significantly more effective than colored nets.  In fact the article recommends "... give preference to white nets".  This is because white nets have a superior initial uptake of insecticide when compared to colored nets (inc. black nets) due to the colored die in the fabric.  To read this article in full please visit www.who.int/malaria/docs/update_coloresLLIN.htm

Another article titled 'Malaria risk & malaria control in Asian Countries affected by the tsunami disaster', written by Dr Allan Schapira, RBM Dept WHO HQ says "Note that factory pre-treated nets must be white, as coloured pre-treated nets have in some cases had too low insecticidal activity due to a technical problem."  To read this article in full please visit www.wpro.who.int/tsunami/docs/Asia_tsunami_malaria_risk-v1-5Jan1.pdf

To view other articles regarding the effectiveness of treated nets please visit the World Health Organisation web site  www.who.int

For further information please do not hesitate to contact us.

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