Vector-borne disease is one of the greatest contributors to human mortality and 
morbidity throughout the tropics. Mosquito-transmitted diseases such as malaria, 
dengue, yellow fever and filariasis are the main contributors to this burden. 
Although insecticides have historically been used to try to control vector 
populations, over the past 15 years, substantial progress has been made in 
developing alternative vector control strategies ranging from biocontrol methods 
through to genetic modification of wild insect populations. Here, we review 
recent advances concerning these strategies and consider the potential 
impediments to their deployment, including the challenges of obtaining 
regulatory approval and community acceptance.