Impact of Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) and Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) for sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) elimination in some remote communities

Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) and Indoor Residual sprays (IRS) in synergy have been an effective way to drive vector transmissions to low levels. A comparison-based survey for the field efficacy of (IRS+ITN) versus single interventions, IRS or ITN alone compared with control was conducted in the Mbaise Area of Imo State Nigeria. Sticky trap (ST) and Human bait (HB) techniques were used for sandflies collection. Results from the two techniques showed that after intervention, the lowest sandflies proportion were from households that intervened with combined measures (IRS+ITN) when compared with single intervention households (IRS) and (ITN) or control. The percentage reduction (%RI) at the sites that intervened with IRS+ITN as compared to either control site or single interventions was found to be the highest. The study strongly advocates the use of integration vector management for sand fly reduction and subsequent disease transmission especially in our rural areas.