Indoor residual spraying (IRS)

The main purpose of IRS is to reduce transmission by reducing the survival of malaria vectors entering houses or sleeping units.

IRS remains a valuable intervention in malaria control when the following conditions are met:

• high percentage of the structures in an operational area have adequate sprayable surfaces, and can be expected to be well sprayed;
• majority of the vector population is endophilic, i.e. rests indoors;
• vector is susceptible to the insecticide in use.

Latest document

• The technical basis for coordinated action against insecticide resistance:
  preserving the effectiveness of modern malaria vector control
  GENEVA, 4–6 May 2010

• The use of DDT in malaria vector control
  WHO position statement on DDT

Key documents

• Indoor residual spraying: Use of indoor residual spraying for scaling up global malaria control and elimination

Complete list of related documents

• Indoor residual spraying
• Indoor residual spraying - Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

• WHO Pesticides Evaluation Scheme: "WHOPES"
  For more detailed and updated information on use of pesticides in malaria vector control, including pesticide specifications for quality control, visit WHO Pesticides Evaluation Scheme: "WHOPES" web site