There are 3 kinds of Mosquito Nets, untreated nets that protect you from the mosquito bite, but the mosquito is still free to go and bite someone else.

The second kind of net are Insecticide Treated Nets or ITNs. ITNs are imregnated with a chemical pesticide, they protect you from the mosquito bite and kill the mosquito.

ITNs are very effective in the fight against Malaria. The use of ITNs in sub Saharan Africa have been shown to;

Decrease severe Malaria by 45%
Reduce Premature births by 42%
Cut child mortality by up to 63%

ITNs however need to be retreated at least once a year with pesticide that kills the mosquito - retreatment adds to the over all cost of the net.

However there is a third category of mosquito nets are known as LLINs (Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets). An LLIN is a treated net that has a much longer life than an ordinary ITN.

A mosquito net cannot be advertised as an LLIN unless it fulfils certain standards set by the World Health Organization.

The World Health Organization (WHO) define an LLIN as a factory treated mosquito net that is expected to retain full insecticidal afficacy after at least 20 washes and for at least 3 years in the field under recommended conditions of use.

LLINs last longer and kill more mosquitoes than any other type of mosquito net.

The WHO position statement on the effective use of ITNs and LLINs can be found here.  

Buzz Off is distributing LLIN nets to poor communities in remote areas. In 2009 we distributed more than 7,000 nets.

Each net costs $10. Your donation of $10 will help Buzz Off to save lives and to keep families in Malaria endemic areas disease free.

Donations can be made via the PayPal link on the Buzz Off donations page or by using your credit card on the ARMS Secure Site. (Please remember to select Buzz Off Donate-a-Net from the International Projects menu.