Environmental health and vector control

According to the World Health Organization, more than 20 percent of the overall global burden of disease is attributable to environmental health hazards. Environmental quality is a major factor in vector-borne diseases that tend to affect the poorest population groups, particularly children under 5 years of age. Nearly one-third to one-half of the world’s population is potentially at risk of exposure to vector-borne diseases like Chagas disease, yellow fever, dengue, and malaria. Malaria, transmitted by mosquitoes, represents the largest share–more than 1 million deaths and 2.4 billion people are at risk. All mosquitoes breed in stagnant water and produce aquatic larvae, but the type of water (polluted pond, salt marsh, etc.) preferred by different species varies. There are three types of mosquito control: environmental, chemical, and biological. Integrated vector management (use of insecticide-treated nets, indoor residual spraying, larval control) is receiving increasing attention as a basic methodology for implementing malaria and other vector-borne disease control activities at the global and country levels.

Case Studies

Tending to treatment in Thailand Bangkok, Thailand | June 1, 2004 The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration selected CH2M HILL to oversee the design, construction and operation of two new wastewater collection and treatment systems. Learn more

After the storm, relief

Compassion in action: CH2M employees respond to tsunami

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