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Ecological and demographic changes resulting from the introduction of irrigation may create new or more favourable habitats for disease vectors. There are subtle differences in the ecological requirements of a range of disease vectors and there are intricate transmission patterns in different parts of the world. Local health authorities will have this information at hand. An interdisciplinary dialogue should guide planners in the incorporation of engineering and environmental management measures in the design, construction and rehabilitation of irrigation schemes. In general terms, two key determinants can be influenced: vector density (which is, up to a saturation point, linearly related to the transmission level) and vector longevity (the longer the lifespan of an individual mosquito, the greater the chance it transmits a disease to one or more humans).

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