Ednah Ototo

analysis By Andrew Githeko, Kenya Medical Research Institute and Ednah OtotoKenya's two major malaria prevention strategies - indoor residual spraying of homes in high transmission areas and the issuing of insecticide treated nets - have led to a significant reduction in malaria transmission. The two methods were introduced in the country's western highlands, traditionally considered a high transmission area, about a decade ago and have resulted in the disease's caseload decreasing by about 80%.

The two methods were introduced in the country's western highlands, traditionally considered a high transmission area, about a decade ago and have resulted in the disease's caseload decreasing by about 80%. But the drop in cases has brought a new challenge: people have begun losing their immunity to the disease. The consequence is that they are prone to contracting more complicated forms of the malaria that could result in death.

Kenya’s two major malaria prevention strategies – indoor residual spraying of homes in high transmission areas and the issuing of insecticide treated nets – have led to a significant reduction in malaria transmission. The two methods were introduced in the country’s western highlands, traditionally considered a high transmission area, about a decade ago and have resulted in the disease’s caseload decreasing by about 80%.