Abstract
Dengue poses a significant public health threat and results in ~96 million clinical cases every year. Central America is a region burdened by neglected tropical diseases, including dengue. The primary vectors of dengue, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, are widely distributed in Honduras. Additionally, sustained and consistent mosquito control is lacking in the country. Successful control of container mosquitoes relies heavily on participation from community leaders, stakeholders, and the community itself. We conducted a pilot study in San Pedro Sula, Honduras where community leaders and stakeholders were trained on mosquito biology and control and were able to apply that knowledge to an underserved community in San Pedro Sula. Surveys to assess the number and type of containers in the community and the number of containers on the residence identified associations with select socioeconomic factors and other variables based on survey questions. The average number of containers on the premises was 15 (± 2.3) and the most prevalent containers (>50%) were flowerpots, garbage, and toys, which could be targeted in mosquito control programs. This pilot study offers a framework for training community leaders and stakeholders to create a sustainable community-based vector control program for container mosquitoes.
Highlights
Central America is burdened by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), including dengue [1].The association of NTD prevalence and poverty is well-established [2] and in Honduras, 62% of the population is living below the poverty line [3] and 17% live in extreme poverty [4]
The neighborhood was 31 hectares and was primarily composed of residential properties, there were some small commercial stores including restaurants in the area as well. This community was selected due to a high incidence of dengue cases originating in this area and historic problems with container-inhabiting mosquitoes, which are known vectors of Dengue virus (DENV), CHIKV, and Zika virus (ZIKV)
A two-week workshop in San Pedro Sula, Honduras was successful in training a diverse group of community leaders and other stakeholders on various aspects of mosquito biology and control
Summary
Central America is burdened by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), including dengue [1].The association of NTD prevalence and poverty is well-established [2] and in Honduras, 62% of the population is living below the poverty line [3] and 17% live in extreme poverty (less than $1.90 per day) [4]. Central America is burdened by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), including dengue [1]. Honduras experiences millions of cases of NTDs annually and many more individuals are at risk of infection [1]. Dengue virus (DENV) Flavivirus (Flaviviridae) is considered a neglected tropical disease and is responsible for an estimated 390 million dengue infections per year (96 million clinical cases) [5]. Dengue fever is characterized by non-specific flu-like symptoms including headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, and rashes. More severe manifestations of the disease include dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome, both of which are potentially fatal [6]. The global presence and severity of this disease makes it a notable public health concern
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