Abate is a larvicide for Aedes aegypti, a vector of yellow fever, dengue, and haemorrhagic fever. It is less toxic than malathion or DDT.
This use of Abate and other insecticidal measures (malathion spraying) gradually achieved control of A. aegypti during the first 4 months of treatment and control was maintained thereafter although the test area was surrounded by active breeding-sites.