Indoor Spraying Prevents Dengue

The virus is primarily spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitos, which live in tropical and subtropical areas of the world.

Numerous insecticides are known to kill adult and immature Aedes mosquitos, but exposing the mosquitos to the insecticides can be challenging, since the insects tend to rest in hidden, indoor areas.

To determine the effectiveness of indoor spraying in preventing dengue, Olaf Horstick, of the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and colleagues searched seven research databases for existing literature on indoor residual spraying (IRS) and indoor space spraying (ISS). They then systematically reviewed papers that were identified pertaining to the effect of IRS and ISS on dengue.

Out of seven studies three on IRS and four on ISS all concluded that there was some effect on either mosquito populations or dengue case numbers.

The strength of evidence was strongest for the effect of IRS and ISS on adult mosquito populations, with multiple studies reporting no adult mosquitos surviving the indoor treatments.

Evidence on the indoor treatments to reduce larval populations or dengue cases was more limited.

More research is needed on indoor spraying, the team concluded, although the review results are very promising, particularly in comparison with other Aedes control methods.

Source: Eurekalert