Fig. 5

Simulation results for the fractional improvement \(\chi _s\) in reducing host prevalence, defined in Eq. 4, as a function of the time of MDA deployment \(\tau _0\). Each panel corresponds to a different, labeled reproductive number \(R_0\) which is also taken to correspond with the annual EIR \({\mathcal {E}}_a\) [61]. The MDA timing is measured with respect to the IRS deployment at \(\tau =0\), as indicated. It is again clear that a synchronous deployment, or just nearly so, preceding the IRS by the period of prophylaxis due to the MDA, is most effective in suppressing infections/infectiousness in the populace. The effect is double or better with good campaign scheduling