Indoor residual spraying: an operational manual for IRS for malaria transmission, control and elimination

Overview

Indoor residual spraying (IRS) is a core vector control intervention that can rapidly reduce malaria transmission. It involves the application of a residual insecticide to internal walls and ceilings of housing structures where malaria vectors may come into contact with the insecticide.

This operational manual aims to assist malaria programme managers, entomologists and public health officers in designing, implementing and sustaining high-quality IRS programmes. 

This document is superseded by the new Operational manual on indoor residual spraying: control of vectors of malaria, Aedes-borne diseases, Chagas disease, leishmaniases and lymphatic filariasis published in 2024.