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Rapid Responses: Rapid Responses published:
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Appreciation of community environmental management strategy
- Nicky O Okeyo (26 June 2009)
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Simultaneous fumigation by everyone can kill all the adult mosquitoes at once
- Manjula Singh, Neeru Gupta, KK Jani, Nivedita Gupta (30 October 2009)
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Isolate all cases of fever from mosquitoe in dengue epidemic season
- Neeru Gupta (31 October 2009)
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Re: Simultaneous fumigation by everyone can kill all the adult mosquitoes at once
- ARVIND NATH (9 November 2009)
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Re: Re: Simultaneous fumigation by everyone can kill all the adult mosquitoes at once
- Neeru Gupta, Manjula Singh (10 November 2009)
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Nicky O Okeyo, Researcher Great Lakes University of Kisumu
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Community involvement in dengue vector control: cluster randomized trial Dear Editor I am encouraged by the results of the Community based environmental management strategy trial for dengue vector control by Vanlerberghe, Toledo, Rodriguez and colleagues which appeared in the BMJ issue of June 9, 2009 (Ref: BMJ 2009; 338:1959). I believe this kind of environmental strategy involving the community could also be effective in the control of Anopheles mosquitoes the vector that spreads malaria. Malaria is a major vector borne disease most prevalent in tropical countries particularly Sub Saharan Africa. It is a public health and development challenge for the poor countries which require urgent cost effective community based vector control interventions. In Kenya, malaria transmission occurs throughout the year in districts close to Lake Victoria, and the prevalence of parasite infection among children often exceeds 50% (Kenya MOH 2006). In Nyanza Province, malaria remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among pregnant women and children (Morel et al 2005; Ochola 2004; WHO 2005). Given the presence of water bodies (ponds, pools, dams) and poor drainage systems within residential areas, compounded by extensive bushy states in most of the regions in Nyanza, there exists a perfect breeding environment for mosquitoes. At the household level, there is inconsistent supply of clean water, therefore households tends to store water in open containers for sufficiently long times (more than one week), a practice that encourages mosquito breeding in households. These conditions are effectively tackled through interventions that involve community participation. Kenya, a country whose current health policy recognizes the importance of community participation through existing community structures would greatly benefit from this approach of community participation in environmental management to reduce mosquito breeding sites and ultimately the prevalence of malaria. Sincerely, Nicky Odhiambo Okeyo
References 1. Ministry of Health (MOH) (Kenya)/Division of Reproductive health.2006. Baseline survey for Maternal and Neonatal Health in Homabay, Migori, Kuria and Suba Districts in Nyanza Province. May 2006. 2. Morel M.C, Lauer AJ, Evans D.B, 2005, Achieving the millennium development goals for health: Cost effectiveness analysis of strategies to combat malaria in developing countries. British Medical Journal; 331:p1299 -1300. 3. Ochola S. A, and Lynam P, 2005, Malaria in pregnancy: Developing guidelines is not enough, Division of Malaria Control, MoH and JHPIEGO, Nairobi, Kenya. 4. WHO and UNICEF. 2005 World Malaria Report. WHO, Geneva. Competing interests: None declared |
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Manjula Singh, Scientist'C' Indian Council of Medical Research, Ansari Nagar, N. Delhi-110029, Neeru Gupta, KK Jani, Nivedita Gupta
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Dengue is a dreaded disease and it is a public health emergency. The role of community involvement in dengue control as suggested by authors (1) will definety have an impact in the dengue control. Killing of all adult mosquitoes can be taken up at war footing as immediate and effective measure in mosquito control. One day initiative of simultaneous fumigation by all areas (public and private) has the potential to kill all adult mosquitoes simultaneously. Targeting the massive killing of adult mosquitoes can break the chain of transmission at once. Fumigation of the whole city can be done on one designated day leading to simultaneous killing of all adult mosquitoes on one particular day in the month. On the roads the vehicles can run and do the anti- mosquito fogging. And in big institutions (Private and Government) the organization chiefs can get the fumigation done in their buildings and at residences, the residents can use sprays for domestic use as mosquito control measure.. The roads and buildings can be fumigated in late night and houses in the daytime to avoid toxicity due to simultaneous fogging. It will decrease the adult mosquito population tremendously thus help in controlling not only the dengue but also all other mosquito borne diseases. References : Vanlerberghe V, Toledo M E, Rodríguez M, Gomez D, Baly A, Benitez J R, and Van der Stuyft P. Community involvement in dengue vector control: cluster randomised trial BMJ 2009;338:b1959 Competing interests: None declared |
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Neeru Gupta, Deputy Director General and Scientist E Indian Council of Medical Research, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029
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Dengue fever has reservoir in humans only and is spread through bite of Aedes aegepti mosquito from one person to other in rainy season. We can take advantage of the seasonality and epidemiology of dengue. If every fever case (in dengue outbreak season) is isolated from mosquitoes (by means of fully covered clothing, mosquito repellent or mosquito net etc.), then transmission will be hampered. It will be a doable and cost- effective strategy. Competing interests: None declared |
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ARVIND NATH, Scientist 'C' Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi 110029
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Before undertaking mass fumigation, one will need data from mosquito dissection and virological studies that the mosquitoes in the area proposed to be fumigated are indeed carrying the dengue virus or not. If there is no dengue-virus carriage in the mosquitoes, then the whole exercise would be futile. The role of the public health departments is not to reduce the mosquito nuisance, rather it is to interrupt the transmission of disease. Competing interests: None declared |
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Neeru Gupta, Deputy Director General and Scientist E Indian Council of Medical Research, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029., Manjula Singh
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Detecting virus in mosquitoes can serve as an early warning signal for fogging, to prevent a dengue outbreak. But once the epidemic is established and proven, then it already means the mosquitoes are infected and virologic surveillance in mosquitoes then will be a superfluous activity and unnecessarily waste resources and time. Competing interests: None declared |
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