Pyrethroids; a Special Chemical Class of Active Ingredients that Kill Insects, Including Mosquitoes

A pyrethroid is a naturally occurring chemical similar to pyrethrins, which are produced by the flowers of the pyre thrum. Pyrethrins are commonly used as household and commercial pesticides. This is because they are safe to use on plants and even animals. They act as an insecticide by disrupting the sexual life cycle of insects, though some varieties of pyrethroids can also serve this purpose. Pyrethroids are a special chemical class of active ingredients. They are low in toxicity to birds and mammals and require very low doses to kill insects. They grow quickly and can become resistant to conventional pest control methods.

In household concentrations, pyrethroids are generally harmless to humans. Pyrethroids are chemicals that kill insects, including mosquitoes. Moreover, they can help prevent the spread of the West Nile virus. West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease and is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. In Mexico, pyrethroid insecticides have been widely used as adulticides for more than a decade and have represented a strong selection for insecticide resistance for dengue vectors in several parts of the country. Dengue is a vector-borne disease and is a public health problem in Mexico. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for pyrethroid insecticides in Mexico.