The incidence of dengue has increased 30-fold over the last 50 years. It threatens almost half of the planet’s population and is the most prevalent mosquito-borne viral disease. About 60% of dengue-related costs are not directly associated with healthcare expenditure, but to loss in productivity from illness. With no curative medicine or vaccine to date, concerted and innovative vector control efforts of public and private sector partners are needed to minimize the effect of dengue on agricultural productivity.
A Debilitating Disease
Dengue is a debilitating condition affecting victims with excruciating pain and high fever, earning dengue its sobriquet “breakbone fever”. Individuals afflicted with the disease become unable to work, halting everyday productivity in both urban and rural settings. In its most severe form, dengue fever can turn into dengue hemorrhagic shock which is fatal in 2.5% of cases.
In Search of New Approaches for Dengue Vector Control
Dengue is a public health priority in many countries of Latin America and Asia where epidemics occur. Bananas are Costa Rica’s main cash crop, but the country also struggles with the effects of dengue, which affects the country more than any other in Central America (a record of 50,000 cases reported in 2013). In 2014, Bayer and Del Monte Co. signed an agreement with the Costa Rican Ministry of Health to certify banana plantations as dengue-free zones in the province of Limon, an area widely struck by dengue. The certification named “Zero dengue” consists of training on mosquito control provided by Bayer to the Safety and Hygiene Committees of 35 banana farms. Field inspections to identify critical hotbeds that cause mosquito proliferation will be carried out and treatments with Aqua Reslin®, WHOPES recommended space spray will be done when necessary.
Developing a Responsible Plantation Management Culture
The objective is that within 30 days after the certification process begins, there will be no more dengue mosquito-breeding habitats. After this time, the Vector Control Department from the Ministry of Health will evaluate the area and delivers the certification which is valid for one year.