Effective control of dengue vectors with curtains and water container covers treated with insecticide in Mexico and Venezuela: cluster randomised trials
BMJ·
- DOI
- 10.1136/bmj.332.7552.1247
- PMID
- 16735334
- PMCID
- PMC1471956
- OpenAlex
- W2032348127
- Study type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
Insecticide-treated curtains and water container covers reduced dengue vector densities to low levels across entire study communities, suggesting potential for area-wide dengue transmission reduction through this intervention approach.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study assessed whether window curtains and water container covers treated with insecticide could reduce Aedes aegypti populations and dengue transmission in urban settings.
Study design
Cluster randomized controlled trials were conducted in 18 urban sectors each in Veracruz, Mexico and Trujillo, Venezuela, with paired sectors randomized to intervention or control arms and followed for 9-12 months. Each site included a non-randomized external control community for comparison.
Population and setting
The trials enrolled 4,743 inhabitants in 1,095 houses in Veracruz and 5,306 inhabitants in 1,122 houses in Trujillo. Both sites were urban sectors in dengue-endemic areas.
Main findings
Entomological indices declined significantly from baseline in both intervention and control arms, with no significant difference between them. Mean Breteau indices fell from 60% to 7% in intervention clusters and from 113% to 12% in control clusters in Veracruz, and from 38% to 11% in intervention clusters and from 34% to 17% in control clusters in Trujillo. A spill-over effect was observed, with mosquito reductions extending to control clusters and creating a community-wide protective effect throughout study sites.
Public-health relevance
Insecticide-treated curtains and water container covers reduced dengue vector densities to low levels across entire study communities, suggesting potential for area-wide dengue transmission reduction through this intervention approach.
Important limitations
The community-wide spill-over effect prevented detection of differences between intervention and control clusters within study sites. Pyriproxyfen chips were not accepted or used by participants in Veracruz, limiting assessment of that component. This summary relies on the supplied abstract and metadata; the full article is required for complete methodological evaluation and decision-grade interpretation.
GIDS interpretation
This article was identified through classifier links to dengue, Mexico, Venezuela, and topics including climate, transmission dynamics, and treatment. The classification aids discoverability of vector control research but does not indicate an active surveillance signal or epidemiological alert.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 11 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.