No cure exists for dengue, so prevention is key

The threat of dengue is rising fast. Cases have increased 30-50 fold in some areas over a period of just 50 years.¹ Based on the current trajectory, one study predicts that over six billion people will be at risk of dengue fever by 2080.²

As there is no cure for dengue, preventing it from happening in the first place (by avoiding mosquito bites) is especially important.³ If you live in a dengue endemic area, there are many things you can do to help prevent the spread of dengue and help keep you and your community safe.⁴

Help protect your family from dengue: keep the mosquitos out

Dengue is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito species, so controlling mosquito populations is an important way to reduce its impact.^3,5,6 Aedes mosquitos prefer to breed in artificial water containers, such as bottles, plant pots, tires, and even fridge trays.^7,8 Their eggs can survive for up to one year in dry conditions – only hatching when they come into contact with water.⁸

Ways to help reduce mosquito populations and prevent dengue in your home

• Cover water storage containers, empty and clean them every week⁹

• Empty or remove containers that hold standing water, such as tires, buckets and plant pots⁹

• Put up window and door screens in your home to stop mosquitos from entering your home^3,6,9

• Use insect repellents, mosquito coils and vaporizers, and insecticide-treated materials in your home³

• If available, use traps for mosquitos, such as ovitraps⁶

• Turn on the air conditioning to keep your home cool⁶

Coming together as a community to fight dengue

You and your community have a key role in helping to prevent dengue spread – especially when it comes to removing mosquito breeding sites.¹¹ Joining forces is important, as just a few mosquitoes per household can be enough to produce large dengue outbreaks.¹² This has been seen in Singapore where initiatives to tackle dengue by including coordinated community engagement campaigns have been successful.¹³ Members are encouraged to take personal responsibility for mosquito prevention with actions such as emptying out water vases to prevent mosquito breeding.¹³ Also, in Mexico, the patio limpio campaign, raises awareness of dengue among the community. The locals also help identify, monitor, and destroy mosquito breeding sites systematically in households.¹⁴ For instance, in one Mexican state, households that did not participate in the campaign had well over double the risk of developing dengue than those that did.¹⁴

The role of public health organizations and vaccines

Public health organizations can help engage, educate and empower communities such as yours. In Singapore, a government-led traffic light system tells residents about the number of people becoming ill with dengue in their community. It reminds them what to do to help reduce the risk of infection in red or yellow zones and to remain vigilant in green zones.¹⁵

In some cases, public health organizations have joined forces to help the community tackle dengue. The WHO and the Ministry of Health launched a campaign in Sri Lanka to educate the community on clearing dengue mosquito breeding sites.10 This initiative halved the number of hospital stays caused by dengue fever and, according to the WHO, may have helped avoid major outbreaks.¹⁰

Vaccines are another way to help prevent dengue spreading.¹⁶ They may both, help protect the person vaccinated from the complications of dengue and prevent its spread through their community.^16,17 In fact, vaccines have recently become available for dengue, and several additional candidates are in development too;^3,18,19 the Dengue Vaccine Initiative has been launched to encourage the development and use of vaccines to help prevent dengue cases throughout the world.²⁰

Despite these efforts, dengue continues to spread…

Unfortunately, even with global and local efforts, the burden of dengue is ever increasing.³ It is vital that communities and public health organizations continue working together to action integrated approaches for the prevention and control of dengue.

Though often asymptomatic or mild, dengue can quickly become a life-threatening emergency for 1 in 20 people who develop symptoms when they are originally infected.^3,22 Speak to your doctor for more information on how to help prevent dengue in your home and community.