Drugs companies may recently have grabbed attention with their search for cures for the “neglected diseases” of the developing countries, but other businesses have just as important a contribution to make in the fight against the biggest killer of all.

With an estimated 300m to 500m cases of malaria occurring each year, and treatment proving inaccessible, ineffective or unaffordable for most of the world’s population, prevention remains at least as important as cure. For that, bed nets to keep mosquitoes away are essential.