Abstract
Dengue remains a significant public health issue in the Western Pacific Region. In the absence of a vaccine, vector control is the mainstay for dengue prevention and control. In this paper we describe vector surveillance and vector control in the Western Pacific countries and areas. Vector surveillance and control strategies used by countries and areas of the Western Pacific Region vary. Vector control strategies include chemical, biological and environmental management that mainly target larval breeding sites. The use of insecticides targeting larvae and adult mosquitoes remains the mainstay of vector control programmes. Existing vector control tools have several limitations in terms of cost, delivery and long-term sustainability. However, there are several new innovative tools in the pipeline. These include Release of Insects Carrying a Dominant Lethal system and Wolbachia, an endosymbiotic bacterium, to inhibit dengue virus in the vector. In addition, the use of biological control such as larvivorous fish in combination with community participation has potential to be scaled up. Any vector control strategy should be selected based on evidence and appropriateness for the entomological and epidemiological setting and carried out in both inter-epidemic and epidemic periods. Community participation and interagency collaboration are required for effective and sustainable dengue prevention and control. Countries and areas are now moving towards integrated vector management.
Highlights
Dengue fever (DF) and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) are on the increase in Asia and the Pacific
Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Viet Nam, are facing annual epidemics that constitute over 90% of the total dengue cases reported in the Region.[1]
The most important dengue vector in the Western Pacific Region is Aedes aegypti (Stegomyia aegypti), which is predominately found in densely populated urban areas
Summary
Dengue fever (DF) and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) are on the increase in Asia and the Pacific. Sentinel surveillance sites to assess high-risk areas and community-based vector control
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