An expert opinion: insecticide residual spraying, lessons from endemic regions in India

Another vector control option is the deployment of indoor residual spraying (IRS). Dr Kumar discusses the role of this method in a programme of integrated vector management.

IRS has revolutionised vector control and significantly contributed to the lowering vector-borne disease transmission. In the late 1950’s India almost succeeded in eliminating malaria by a rigorous control programme which included IRS with DDT. However, the mosquitoes developed resistance to the insecticide and malaria incidence rose.^[1]

Dr Vijay Kumar (Senior Scientist on Vector Biology and Control from the Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences in the Bihar state of India) speaks about some core challenges in application of IRS in India. In the step after this (Step 3.8) we will look at how to use IRS in a safe and proper manner.