Pall of Dengue Fever

VIETNAM: Science, community cooperation and tiny crustaceans called Mesocyclops are conquering dengue fever in Vietnam.

Woman inspecting water tanks Dengue-carrying mosquitoes thrive in the moist tropical conditions of central and southern Vietnam, although they're by no means confined to these parts. Dengue fever is a serious health hazard across Asia.

Over the past 25 years there have been 1.3 million reported cases of the disease in Vietnam and 25,000 deaths. It spreads rapidly and can affect large numbers of people during an epidemic. One of the difficulties in eradicating the disease is water.

Carrying out an inspection

Many parts of Vietnam are without safe water systems so people store water in whatever vessels they can. It's in these water containers - jars, tanks, even discarded rubber tyres and old coconut shells - that mosquitoes like to breed. Luckily, scientists have discovered the naturally-occurring crustacean Mesocyclops has an extremely useful habit. When placed in water containers it eats mosquito larvae.

Thuy knows all about dengue fever. She's been struck down with the illness twice in her short life - once as an adolescent and recently as an adult. The thought of another attack fills her with dread.

Thuy is a 'project collaborator' in an AusAID-funded program working on a eradicating dengue fever. Thuy's responsible for making monthly 'monitoring' visits to 100 households in her community in Bin Chanh Commune.

Her job is to identify places where dengue-carrying mosquitoes might breed and to advise householders how to treat those areas. In short, she's a dengue educator - she asks and answers questions and makes sure no one is left in any doubt how the disease is transmitted.

Most importantly, before she leaves, Thuy checks Mesocyclops are in place in all water storage jars.

Villagers are now placing the tiny crustaceans in their concrete water tanks and jars as the health message gets out. Everyone is right behind the new approach, from schoolchildren to the old and frail.

Since 2001, none of the communes taking part in a control program in Nam Dinh has reported a single case of dengue. In northern and central Vietnam, around 400,000 people have been protected from the disease.

In view of its success, AusAID is continuing its dengue prevention program in Vietnam for another five years - until 2010. Work will be extended to the three delta provinces of Long An, Ben Tre and Vinh Long.

2006