Dengue is one of the fastest growing infectious diseases in the world. Found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide – mostly in urban and semi-urban areas – the global incidence of dengue has grown dramatically, with about half of the world's population now at risk.
We work with communities and health systems, focusing on innovative and cost-effective control methods to reduce the prevalence of infection of dengue. Within the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), Malaria Consortium provides research support for dengue transmission reduction through vector control.
To tackle this disease, we urgently need to increase funding for vaccine development, improve real-time case surveillance systems, strengthen vector control tools, amplify community engagement and enhance global collaboration. In our Position Statement on dengue, we’ve outlined the best way to fight dengue, by targeting its vectors – the A. aegypti and A. albopictus mosquitoes.
We support the establishment and scale up of affordable vector control methods to reduce the spread of dengue in areas with the highest incidence rates, including mosquito traps and guppy fish nurseries to target mosquito larvae breeding in water containers.
In practice: Working with the Cambodian government between 2018 and 2020, we implemented an ecological vector control strategy in Prey Chhor, supporting the local community to produce free mosquito traps using recycled plastic water bottles and set up low-cost guppy fish nurseries near schools and homes.
Dengue transmission is particularly prevalent in urban and semi-rural settings but can be found in most areas of Cambodia. Engaging communities in dengue control and prevention in urban areas in therefore key.
In practice: We implemented a cross-sectoral dengue prevention project in Prey Chhor – a rural district in Kampong Cham province with one of the highest incidence rates for dengue in the country – to contribute to the development of knowledge around effective dengue control strategies within communities.
Malaria Consortium conducts high-quality research to inform policy and contribute to reducing disease transmission.
In practice: As co-investigator on a project led by the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and Myanmar’s Ministry of Health and Sport, we assessed the impact of student-driven interventions on dengue control in the Yangon region of Myanmar.