The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has dismissed as false and misleading claims circulating on social media that insecticide-treated mosquito nets distributed to primary school children contain harmful chemicals that pose health risks.
According to the GHS, the Interceptor® G2 Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) have been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) after undergoing extensive safety assessments. The Service explained that the nets contain chlorfenapyr and alpha-cypermethrin, insecticides that have been widely used in public health programmes for years and are considered safe when used as directed.
The GHS also rejected allegations that the nets pose respiratory risks, stating that the insecticidal compounds have extremely low vapour pressure and do not become airborne, meaning users breathe normal air while sleeping under the nets.
Reassuring the public, the Service noted that insecticide-treated nets have been used across Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa for decades without any documented cases linking their proper use to respiratory illness. It urged parents and caregivers to continue using the nets to protect children against malaria, while advising users to air newly received nets in a shaded, well-ventilated area for up to 48 hours before first use.
The GHS further cautioned the public against spreading unverified health information and encouraged anyone with concerns or unusual reactions after using the nets to seek medical advice at the nearest health facility.