Dengue: a continuing global threat.

Dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever are important arthropod-borne viral diseases. Each year, there are ∼50 million dengue infections and ∼500,000 individuals are hospitalized with dengue haemorrhagic fever, mainly in Southeast Asia, the Pacific and the Americas. Illness is produced by any of the four dengue virus serotypes.

Dengue vector-control services: how do they work? A systematic literature review and country case studies.

The increasing incidence and geographic expansion of dengue suggest limitations of vector-control operations. We undertook an analysis of services with two methods: a systematic literature review; and case studies (stakeholder interviews, questionnaires) in Brazil, Guatemala, The Philippines and Viet Nam. In the systematic literature review there were only a few studies (strict criteria, 9 studies; less strict criteria, a further 16 studies and 3 guidelines).

The effect of long-lasting insecticidal water container covers on field populations of Aedes aegypti (L.) mosquitoes in Cambodia.

Dengue in Cambodia is mainly transmitted by Aedes aegypti (L.) mosquitoes that primarily breed in large, concrete jars (> or =200 liters) used for the storage of water for domestic use. Following a preliminary risk assessment, long-lasting insecticidal netting (LN) treated with deltamethrin was incorporated into the design of the covers for these jars.

Six months of Aedes aegypti control with a novel controlled-release formulation of pyriproxyfen in domestic water storage containers in Cambodia.

A field evaluation of a novel, 5% controlled-release formulation of pyriproxyfen was carried out in 400-500 liter concrete water storage jars, the most common and important larval habitat of the dengue vector, Aedes aegypti, in Cambodia. The formulation consisted of cylindrical resin strands, 3 mm in diameter and 40 mm in length. Pyriproxyfen was applied to 100 jars at a target dose of 0.

Community-based use of the larvivorous fish Poecilia reticulata to control the dengue vector Aedes aegypti in domestic water storage containers in rural Cambodia.

A community-based study of the distribution of larvivorous fish, Poecilia reticulata (common name: guppy), in water storage containers for dengue control was undertaken in 14 villages and approximately 1,000 households in Cambodia. Community volunteers reared guppies and distributed them in water jars and tanks in households for which they were responsible. A nearby control area received no intervention.

Resurgence of chikungunya.

Chikungunya, an arboviral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, has recently increased dramatically in incidence and geographic extent. Large outbreaks have affected islands of the Indian Ocean, India and other parts of South and Southeast Asia, Africa and most recently Italy. International travellers have disseminated new strains of the virus, some into regions from which chikungunya has hitherto been absent.

Cost-effectiveness of annual targeted larviciding campaigns in Cambodia against the dengue vector Aedes aegypti.

Objective: To assess the cost-effectiveness (CE) of annual targeted larviciding campaigns from 2001 to 2005 against the dengue vector Aedes aegypti in two urban areas of Cambodia with a population of 2.9 million people.

Methods: The intervention under analysis consisted of annual larviciding campaigns targeting medium to large water storage containers in households and other premises.

Inhibition of adult emergence of Aedes aegypti in simulated domestic water-storage containers by using a controlled-release formulation of pyriproxyfen.

Concrete domestic water-storage jars are a common larval habitat of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti in countries of Southeast Asia. The efficacy of a novel controlled-release formulation of the insect growth regulator pyriproxyfen, designed to inhibit adult emergence for 6 months (the approximate duration of the main dengue transmission season in many endemic countries) was tested in Cambodia against a local strain of Ae. aegypti in 200-liter jars.

Cost-effectiveness of a pediatric dengue vaccine.

To ascertain the economic feasibility of a pediatric tetravalent dengue vaccine, we developed and calibrated a cost-effectiveness model of vaccinating children at 15 months in Southeast (SE) Asia using a societal perspective. We assumed that full immunization would require two doses at prices of US$ 0.50 and US$ 10 per dose in the public and private sectors, respectively.