Strengthening Entomology for Effective Dengue Control in India
Dengue is spreading in India into rural and peri-urban areas, challenging existing urban-focused surveillance systems. While vaccines exist, entomological surveillance remains key for prevention, yet it faces operational and resource gaps. Strengthening coordinated, year-round entomological surveillance using advanced tools, data integration, and community involvement is critical for proactive dengue control.
Dengue is increasingly prevalent and spreading into new areas of India, with Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus as primary mosquito vectors. Despite national guidelines for entomological surveillance as part of Integrated Vector Management, implementation at district and local levels remains inconsistent and reactive, mostly intensified during outbreaks instead of year-round. Traditional larval surveys provide low-cost but limited data, while advanced methods like adult mosquito trapping, insecticide resistance testing, and molecular xenomonitoring offer better outbreak prediction and control insights but are limited by costs and infrastructure.The National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control coordinates surveillance policies and training, but coordination gaps among state departments, local bodies, and laboratories undermine early response. Workforce shortages, underfunding, and lack of a unified national entomological data platform contribute to fragmented efforts. Recent regional studies show shifts in mosquito species composition and insecticide resistance, underscoring the need for adaptable control strategies.Strengthening efforts requires systemic reforms including institutionalizing inter-agency coordination, creating a unified data platform for real-time sharing, increasing permanent entomologist positions, and expanding surveillance into rural and peri-urban zones. Operational priorities include building local capacity in advanced surveillance and vector control techniques, deploying technologies like IoT-enabled ovitraps and AI-based aerial surveys, and sustaining pre-monsoon and seasonal monitoring. Community engagement and integrated epidemiological-entomological data systems could enhance preventive action.Overall, India must modernize and sustain entomological surveillance through integrated policy, innovation, and community-driven approaches to ensure proactive, effective dengue prevention nationwide.
