Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS)
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| Source: Karie Atkinson/USAID |
IRS is the organized, timely spraying of an insecticide on the inside walls of houses or dwellings. It is designed to interrupt malaria transmission by killing adult female mosquitoes when they enter houses and rest on the walls after feeding, but before they can transmit the infection to another person. IRS has been used for decades and has helped eliminate malaria from many areas of the world, particularly where the mosquitoes are indoor-resting and where malaria is seasonally transmitted. PMI activities include environmental assessments to ensure safe and effective use of insecticides, training spray teams, procuring insecticide and equipment, and developing and evaluating spraying activities.
Voices from the Field
- Benin: Women Pioneer Antimalaria Efforts in Benin – April 2009
- Kenya: Shedrack Maritim Awarded ‘Spear of Heroism’ for Fighting Malaria – April 2009
- Madagascar: Combating Malaria While Safeguarding Madagascar’s Unique Environment – April 2009
- Malawi: Fighting Malaria in Malawi: Recent Data Shows 45 Percent Reduction in Childhood Anemia After Indoor Residual Spraying – February 2009
- Rwanda: Indoor Residual Spraying Protects Mother and Children in Rwanda – August 2008
- Senegal: Reaching Villagers in Senegal with Malaria Interventions – April 2009
- Senegal: Excusez-moi, Monsieur; Can I Spray Your House? – June 2008
- Senegal: PMI Protects 700,000 Senegalese in Malaria Battle – February 2008
- Tanzania: Zanzibari Women Tackle Malaria – August 2008
- Tanzania: Nets, Spray Keep Malaria Down in Zanzibari Family – October 2006
- Zambia: Malaria on the Retreat in Zambia: Community Sees Results from Indoor Residual Spraying – April 2009
- Zambia: Zambia Reports Significant Progress in Control and Prevention – February 2008
Additional Resources
- Integrated Vector Management Programs for Malaria Vector Control: Programmatic Environmental Assessment - January 2007 [PDF, 2.5MB]
- USAID and Indoor Residual Spraying
- WHO gives indoor use of DDT a clean bill of health for controlling malaria - 9/15/06
- Ten things you should know about DDT use under the Stockholm Convention [PDF, 84KB]
- The Cost and Cost Effectiveness of Malaria Vector Control by Residual Insecticide House-Spraying in Southern Mozambique: A Rural and Urban Analysis [PDF, 147KB]
- The Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative (LSDI) Malaria Control Programme
- Reduction in infection with Plasmodium falciparum one year after the introduction of malaria control interventions on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea
- Indoor Residual Spraying and Insecticide-treated Nets