Spatial stratification of the entomological risk for dengue transmission in neighborhoods of Asunción - Paraguay

Abstract

Introduction: Dengue is the main mosquito-borne viral disease. Every year, more than 350 million cases are reported worldwide and nearly 50% of the population is at risk of acquiring it. Paraguay is no stranger to this problem. In 2019, 11,811 cases were recorded, and Asunción was one of the most affected cities in the country. The disease is transmitted by the bite of Aedes aegypti, a mosquito that oviposits in containers inside homes, this fact has made it possible to design entomological indicators to calculate the risk of transmission. The availability of entomological information related to the spatial distribution of dengue makes it possible to build risk or heat maps, which is very useful information for the authorities and the stakeholders to design prevention and control strategies.Objective: To stratify the entomological risk for dengue transmission in the neighborhoods of Asunción, Paraguay. Methods:Retrospective observational and analytical study, employing the Survey of Rapid Aedes Index (LIRA), periodically estimated in Asunción neighborhoods between 2014 and 2018, to stratify, according to p75 and p25 percentiles, high-and low-risk neighborhoods, respectively.Results: 14 high entomological risk neighborhoods, 17 low risk neighborhoods, 33 medium risk neighborhoods and 3 neighborhoods with scores for both groups were identified. Conclusion:The spatial analysis of LIRA allows stratification of the risk of dengue transmission, which provides valuable information for targeting surveillance and control of the disease.