LifeNet™ mosquito nets now available

Date:04-25-2012

Bayer CropScience´s innovative LifeNet™ mosquito nets are now available. The company received all necessary regulatory approvals for large scale production. As a first step, the delivery of millions of LifeNet™ mosquito nets is about to start in African countries to support their ongoing fight against malaria. Registrations have been received in Malawi, Namibia and Zambia with further registrations pending. LifeNet™ represents a longer-lasting, user-friendly alternative to currently available nets.

Malaria, still one of the world’s deadliest diseases, has been eliminated in some parts of the world. Yet in certain parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, malaria infections have increased over the last three decades. According to the WHO, populations living in this region have the highest risk of acquiring malaria. Malaria significantly affects the quality of life of communities and impacts local economies by reducing the income of individuals and families, thus slowing economic growth. Malaria also threatens food security and rural development in already deprived regions, e.g. by causing losses in agricultural production.

"Our motivation was to set a new standard in bednet durability and to thereby increase the impact of malaria control programs for the benefit of those in need,” said Dr. Gunnar Riemann, Head of Bayer CropScience´s Environmental Science Division.

"LifeNet™ is the world´s first long-lasting polypropylene net, with deltamethrin incorporated deep into the fiber providing a unique combination of efficacy, strength and softness – a new tool in the fight against malaria,” added Nadim Mohr, Commercial Operations Manager at Bayer Environmental Science and responsible for Sub-Saharan Africa. "LifeNet™ is the first net which is recognized by the World Health Organization to be effective even after 30 washes – providing more, effective nights of protection.”