In Vietnam, dengue disease burden is most severe in the Mekong Delta region – south of Ho Chi Minh City. 70% of all dengue cases and 80% of dengue related deaths in the country are recorded in the Southern Vietnam region.
The World Mosquito Program has identified two high-risk areas in the region – My Tho City, Tien Giang Province and Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong Province as suitable sites to trial releases of Wolbachia-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
Community engagement activities have begun in both cities with encouraging support for the project. First releases are expected to take place in early 2022.
The Southern Vietnam project operates in collaboration with the Institute Pasteur of Ho Chi Minh City (IPHCMC) and Action on Poverty (AoP) Vietnam. The IPHCMC is responsible for project implementation and AoP offers funding support, procurement and the provision of an implementing partner.
The project will be undertaken for 43 months and is divided into three stages: preparation, release and monitoring. In the preparation phase, traps will be deployed in the release areas to identify the mosquito profile. A community profile has also been conducted to assist in achieving strong community awareness and support for the project.
The release will be carried out by the field staff and deployed in public spaces like parks, suitable streets, sport complexes and riverside areas.
The community view
WMP has identified two cities close to Ho Chi Minh City where the burden of dengue is significant. The communities in both cities are all too familiar with the disease and are ready to try a new approach to to combat its spread.
