The Ifakara Health Institute’s (IHI) Transmission Zero team joined government health officials, malaria control programme experts and stakeholders in Dar es Salaam to review progress in malaria vector control and discuss emerging approaches that could help Tanzania move closer to malaria elimination.

The Transmission Zero team was among the research groups contributing to scientific evidence and expertise during a two-day Ad Hoc Vector Control Technical Working Group (VCTWG) meeting under the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), held on 9–10 September. 

The meeting brought together stakeholders from the Vice President’s Office (VPO), Ministry of Health-, NMCP, IHI, National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (K.C.M.C), World Health Organization (WHO), PMI Evolve – United State Government (USG), Swiss Tropical and Public Health, Department of State – USG, and African Conversations, to discuss the current vector-control strategies, as well as emerging technologies for malaria prevention.

Spotlighting gene-drive technology

A key focus of the discussions involving the Transmission Zero team was the development and assessment of gene-drive technology, a transformative scientific approach through genetic biocontrol (transgenic) of mosquito potential with the potential to contribute as an intervention towards control and elimination of malaria. 

Transmission Zero plays a key role in advancing gene drive research for malaria control in Tanzania, contributing to generating evidence to inform the development and assessment of the technology.

The team shared updates on its research, including contained laboratory work on transgenic mosquitoes and field entomology activities in Ukerewe district in Mwanza aimed to better understand local mosquito populations. 

Stakeholder and community engagement component were also presented, ranging from the community, National, Regional, and Global level. There was an emphasis on ensuring that all relevant stakeholders are systematically mapped and engaged to understand their perspectives, identify concerns, and support meaningful participation throughout the research process and eventual adoption of the technology.

The meeting came as Tanzania continues to strengthen established malaria interventions while researchers and health programmes officials explore new approaches to challenges in malaria control including such as changing mosquito populations, insecticide resistance and the need for more effective surveillance.

Assessing the tools already in use

The meeting also focused on the implementation and performance of existing vector-control measures.

Participants reviewed progress in larval source management (LSM) and targeted malaria control (TMC), including technology-enabled approaches to LSM. They also discussed findings from the 2025 School Malaria Prevention Survey.

Discussions also covered Tanzania’s malaria priorities under the Global Fund’s eighth grant cycle, covering vector control, case management, surveillance, monitoring and learning, and social and behaviour change. Lessons from the previous grant cycle were also considered as stakeholders discussed how malaria resources could be allocated more effectively.

Research points to new possibilities

Researchers also presented evidence on new and improved mosquito-control tools, including insecticide-treated nets designed to address resistant mosquitoes and digital technologies for monitoring mosquito populations and assessing the condition of malaria nets.

Other presentations examined Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, including their abundance, distribution and breeding habitats in Dar es Salaam, as well as the relationship between urbanization, mosquito behaviour and dengue exposure in Mwanza.

Participants also heard about ongoing initiatives aimed at strengthening entomological surveillance, early warning and evidence-based vector-control decision-making. 

These initiatives included VectorGrid-Africa, an EU-funded initiative led scientifically by IHI, which is establishing Africa’s first interconnected network of permanent observatories for mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases and; Vector-Borne Diseases 360 (VBDs360), formerly known as MosquitoDB, a real-time data surveillance and management platform used to track vectors and combat vector-borne diseases.