The municipality of Joinville, in the north of Santa Catarina, announced this Monday a plan to combat dengue fever (18). The action plan, focused on four areas, was presented by the mayor’s office at a press conference.

The plan was presented this Monday – Photo: Joinville City Hall/Disclosure/ND

The proposal presented is divided into two phases focusing on prevention, technology, education and assistance. The first stage will begin in December this year.

According to Mayor Adriano Silva (Novo), the number of dengue fever cases in Joinville has been above average in recent weeks compared to the previous three years.

“The fact that we have not experienced a severe winter is contributing to the increase in outbreaks. Therefore, the participation of all Joinville residents is essential to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds,” says the mayor.

Mayor Adriano Silva speaks at a press conference presenting the plan – Photo: Joinville City Hall/Disclosure/ND

The plan, called “Joinville against dengue”, is the result of study and monitoring by technical teams at the mayor’s office. The first part of the plan will focus on prevention and focus on technology.

The dengue control plan will begin to be implemented in the coming days

As part of preventive measures, environmental surveillance activities such as home visits and management of possible outbreaks will be strengthened. Six thousand visits to Aedes aegypti express index points are planned for the first two months of 2024.

City Hall also plans to monitor 1,300 traps per week and 1,600 insecticide operations per month at strategic locations. Technical criteria also provide for the use of fumigation. In February, D-Day Against Dengue will conduct a joint effort to eliminate possible outbreaks.

Innovative technologies will be used.

Regarding the technological component, the highlight is the Wolbachia method, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Fiocruz (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation) and WMP (World Mosquito Programme).

The strategy involves injecting Wolbachia bacteria into dengue-carrying mosquitoes. The bacterium is present in 60% of insects in nature and does not harm humans, but prevents the spread of diseases by mosquitoes, in addition to chikungunya and Zika.

“The Wolbachia method is another weapon against dengue fever and complements fundamental initiatives such as eliminating possible breeding sites. It is worth emphasizing that in the medium term this is a self-sufficient action, the effective results of which are expected after a year of implementation,” explains Deputy Mayor Réjean Gambin.

According to the municipality, the method is already used in 14 countries and has shown positive results, for example in Australia, where it was created. There, the number of dengue fever cases dropped by 96%.

The Brazilian city of Niteroi (RJ) is also an example of the success of this method, with the number of cases falling by 69% in two years.

To implement the technology, the territory will be mapped and a biofactory installed, which will happen by May 2024. Between April and June there will also be communication and interaction, and in July mosquitoes with bacteria will begin to be released.

The second phase of the plan will begin in January 2024.

The second stage of the plan will include the implementation of the main directions of “Education” and “Help”. In the education sector, a partnership will be established with the public and private education network in Joinville to strengthen the Dengue Detectives project and the 10 Minutes against Dengue program.

Disease should be included as a cross-cutting theme across multiple disciplines, and collaborative efforts and combat efforts would be encouraged. This component, as it relates to the start of the school year, will be implemented from February 2024.

In the case of Aid, the intention is to organize a flow of aid to people with dengue fever, starting in January. To this end, the plan will be divided into tiers, as is the case in the Civil Defense Contingency Plan, and the service’s capabilities will be expanded depending on changes in the number of cases.

The full plan submitted by the municipality can be seen at this link. The website also has a Dengue Fever Control Team where the public can monitor the development of cases of the disease and provide prevention and control materials.