Dengue vector control

Abstract

The vertical strategies adopted by Gorgas and Soper in the Americas are now considered to be too labour intensive, expensive and in some countries, an infringement on personal liberties. Hence, there was concerted global push towards the development of fully horizontal or community based strategies. Although the control of peridomestic Aedes vectors of dengue viruses, in theory, should be simple, it is facing a crisis. This has been complicated by the global expansion of dengue haemorrhagic fever, burgeoning urbanization, rapid aircraft travel and lack of governmental commitment. New environmental awareness has created the need to find novel biological solutions. These points are reviewed with reference to past and present, with reference to studies in Queensland, Brasil, China and the Pacific.