Surveillance and control of Aedes aegypti in Uruguay, achievements and challenges

Abstract

Uruguay has monitored the presence of Aedes aegypti since 1997, when its reintroduction was reported. Since then, different methodologies have been used (larval surveys, control of strategic points, method of rapid survey of Aedes aegypti indices, traps). The LIRAa methodology is effective in detecting the main containers that are acting as breeding sites for Ae. aegypti in a certain area. However, the larval indices obtained are not sufficient to estimate the risk of arbovirus transmission because they do not provide a reliable estimate of the adult population, they do not take into account the distribution in transmission clusters and are heavily operator-dependant. The objective of this work was to improve the surveillance system in order to identify sites and periods with high Aedes density and help prevent future outbreaks of arbovirosis.