Dengue/Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DF/DHF) Prevention and Control Report of the Intercountry Consultation of Programme Managers of DF/DHF, Batam Island, Indonesia, 10-13 July 2001 SEA/Haem.Fev./75
The Intercountry Consultation of Programme Managers of DF/DHF from endemic countries and scientists/experts from the South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions, which met at Batam Island, Indonesia reviewed the latest developments with regard to case management, prevention and control of DF/DHF recommended “Revised Regional Strategies for Prevention and Control of DF/DHF – July 2001” and further made recommendations for implementation of different elements in a time bound frame. These are briefly discussed below: There are six basic elements of the revised regional strategies: (1) Establishing an effective disease and vector surveillance system based on reliable laboratory and health information systems; (2) Ensuring early recognition and effective case management of DHF/DSS to prevent case mortality; (3) Undertaking disease prevention and control through integrated vector management with community and intersectoral participation; 120
(4) Undertaking activities to achieve sustainable behavioural changes and partnerships; (5) Establishing emergency response capacity to control outbreaks with appropriate medical services, vector control, communications and logistics, and (6) Strengthening regional and national capacities to undertake prevention and control of dengue and research related to epidemiology, disease and vector management and behavioural changes.
Recommendations For Countries (1) Passive and active surveillance for both DF and DHF should be developed or strengthened using WHO standardized case definitions and standard laboratory diagnostic methods and vector surveillance. (2) A network of laboratories should be developed and strengthened to support Dengue Bulletin – Vol 25, 2001
Dengue/Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DF/DHF) Prevention and Control
DF and DHF surveillance, including a national central laboratory to provide reference and quality control. (3) An early warning system should be developed to predict, and an emergency response plan to control an epidemic. (4) National guidelines on case management based on existing WHO guidelines should be developed and widely distributed and a programme for training all levels of medical personnel, both in the public and private sector drawn up. (5) A National Expert committee on Case Management and Centre of Excellence for Case Management should be established. (6) A situational analysis as a first step towards identification of risk behaviours and developing behaviour change strategies should be conducted. (7) Social mobilization and communication activities that empower communities and establish/build on partnerships to prevent and control dengue should be initiated. (8) With the coordination of WHO, a networking system for timely exchange of surveillance data using state-of-the-art information technology should be developed and implemented. For WHO (1) Effective implementation of the regional strategies for prevention and control of DF/DHF should be facilitated.
(2) Implementation of effective surveillance in the Region should be facilitated by convening a group of experts to draft standardized protocols and recommendations, soliciting outside donor support to help countries implement their programmes, and by establishing and strengthening the network of WHO collaborating centres for reference and research. (3) Guidelines for case management of DF/DHF/DSS for nurses/paramedics should be developed and training for healthcare personnel continued to be provided through the intercountry network. (4) Research and implementation of sustainable behaviour change activities in the Region should be facilitated through provision of technical support and intercountry networks to initiate social mobilization and communication activities. (5) Collaborative studies on costeffectiveness of vector control interventions and the socioeconomic burden of the disease should be undertaken.
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