The Research Program for Deployed Warfighter Protection (DWFP) against disease-carrying insects is an initiative by the United States Department of Defense to develop, validate and use novel materials and technologies to protect deployed military personnel from vector-borne diseases, especially those transmitted by mosquitoes and sand flies.

An article in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management highlights DWFP program accomplishments such as the rodent feed-through technique with insecticidal baits for controlling phlebotomine sand flies; developing attractive targeted sugar bait for use against mosquitoes and sand flies; developing a lethal oviposition trap for container-breeding mosquitoes and evaluating using pyriproxyfen (an insect growth regulator) and autodissemination by these mosquitoes to block their reproduction and metamorphosis; defining the limitations of insect repellents against infected vectors; and developing the Florida Fly Baiter and several types of novel sprayer equipment for insecticide application.

The DWFP research portfolio is concentrated in three areas: novel insecticide chemistries/formulations, application technologies, and personal protective measures. The ultimate objectives are to develop integrated vector control systems, find industry partners to bring novel products to the public health market, and make them available for military use.

Click here to read more in the open-access Journal of Integrated Pest Management.