Health system for dengue control: Early case detection and focal control

Aedes aegypti and dengue virus infection continue to spread in the tropical and subtropical world. Since there is no effective dengue vaccine, mosquito control and dengue patient treatment are the most important and practical way for dengue control. Many attempts have been made to control Aedes aegypti (adultcidal and larvicidal) to prevent dengue epidemic by large vertically-organized teams of workers. However, most of these methods have not been successful in the aspect of continuation of the effective dengue control. By reviewing several dengue control activities, one possible approach for Dengue Fever (DF)/Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) control is presented: 1) development of early case detection by using simple IgM detection methods at the level of health centers, 2) quick fogging of the house and the area of detected case, and 3) development of active community participation in the above activities.