Dengue Decision Support System (DDSS)
Dengue is the most common mosquito-borne viral disease in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. More than 50 million cases of dengue fever and several hundred thousand cases of the more severe dengue hemorrhagic fever are estimated to occur each year.
Because a vaccine against dengue virus is still lacking, control of the mosquito vector is the primary option for disease prevention and control. Currently employed vector control strategies have, however, not been adequate to combat dengue and novel tools and approaches are desperately needed.
One key aim of the Dengue Decision Support System (DDSS) project is to create, optimise and distribute a system which will provide up to date information on all aspects of mosquito vectors and dengue to enable control programme managers to implement, evaluate and refine locally appropriate disease prevention and control strategies.
The DDSS will provide capacity for collection, management and analysis of vector and dengue data in a standardised way. Data will be displayed in intuitive formats (e.g. maps, graphs, charts) to support the implementation of locally appropriate vector/dengue control programme strategies and evidence-based decision making. A framework for the DDSS has been developed and software to enable its operation is being developed. We expect the software development to be completed in late 2010.
Aside from the DDSS itself, the project is developing novel strategies for proactive vector and dengue surveillance and control, including:
- Use of Google Earth™ to display DDSS generated data on an image of the physical environment
- ‘Casa Segura’ – a ‘safe house’ proactive vector control approach based on use of long-lasting insecticide-treated materials within the home as window curtains and door drapes
- Syndromic surveillance for rapid detection of dengue outbreaks to enable a quicker, more focused vector control intervention.
The DDSS project is an international collaboration including academic partners in the United States and Mexico. Field testing of elements from the DDSS system has carried out in Mexico, and a major Casa Segura field trial began in 2009.