Challenges and future prospects for Dengue vector control

Abstract

Dengue is a significant public health issue in urban and suburban areas. It is a viral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Due to lack of specific antiviral treatment or vaccine against dengue, vector control presently appears to be the only effective method for dengue prevention and control. Various methods are in use for vector control depending upon geography and climatic conditions of the endemic areas. Although still widely used are chemical, biological and environmental management techniques, the overall problem remains very challenging. This is due to several limitations associated with existing vector control strategies in terms of cost, delivery and long-term sustainability, however, several new innovative tools are being developed. For example, the release of mosquitoes carrying a dominant lethal system or those harboringWolbachia, that interferes with dengue virus transmission are in the pipeline. Very often vector control programmes involve the use of entomopathogenic bacteria includingBacillus sphaericus and Bacillus thuringiensis which produce highly potent toxins, targeted specifically against mosquitoes larvae. Any vector control strategy should be selected in accordance to scientific evidence and appropriateness for the epidemiological setting. The current review aimed to discuss the merits of various approaches with reference to vector control required for effective dengue outbreak prevention and control. Key words: Dengue, control methods, B. thuringinesis, B. sphaericus, Insecticides.