This review critically evaluates current dengue prevention strategies, with a focused lens on the interrelated roles of environmental cleanliness and community awareness. Dengue, transmitted predominantly by Aedes aegypti, remains a significant global health threat.
exacerbated by urbanization, climate change, and globalization. With no widely effective antiviral treatment and only limited vaccine success, preventive measures remain the most viable approach (Kasbawati et al., 2019; Chathurangika, Perera and Silva, 2024; Khobragade and Meshram, 2021).
Environmental cleanliness is the foundation for disrupting the mosquito life cycle. Aedes mosquitoes breed in stagnant water commonly found in artificial containers, making waste management, elimination of water-holding receptacles, and improved sanitation critical
interventions. Source reduction, larviciding, and physical habitat removal significantly decrease vector populations. However, challenges such as insecticide resistance and inconsistent public compliance require alternative, sustainable solutions, including biological
controls and natural larvicides (Achee et al., 2015; Herath et al., 2024; Wang and Zhu, 2023).
Community involvement is crucial in sustaining vector control efforts. Awareness campaigns, door-to-door education, and school-based programs encourage behavioral changes that directly reduce mosquito breeding and promote early disease detection. These efforts enhance the effectiveness of environmental interventions by fostering a sense of ownership and collective responsibility. Active community participation transforms residents into stakeholders in their own health, creating a more resilient and adaptive prevention model (Aik et al., 2019; Allen, Crouch and Topp, 2020; Edullantes, Cagurin and Walag, 2024).
Emerging technologies such as climate-based predictive models, genomic surveillance, and mobile health platforms offer opportunities to forecast outbreaks and implement timely responses. Integrated vector management (IVM) programs that combine entomological data
with environmental and social insights can guide targeted interventions. Furthermore, the development of genetically modified mosquitoes, microbial larvicides, and eco-friendly repellents holds promise—though their ethical and societal acceptability must be carefully addressed (Knoblauch et al., 2023; Tsheten et al., 2020; Danko et al., 2023).
Despite progress, dengue vaccine development faces immunological challenges, particularly in achieving balanced protection across all four serotypes. Vaccine-induced antibody- dependent enhancement (ADE) remains a concern, complicating deployment strategies.
Ongoing research into tetravalent vaccines, mRNA platforms, and recombinant technologies is vital, but prevention strategies must continue to rely primarily on vector control and community action. (Chen et al., 2023; Roth et al., 2019; Silva and Fernández-Sesma, 2023). Effective dengue prevention also requires strong policy frameworks, intersectoral collaboration, and strategic resource allocation. Public health infrastructure must support regular clean-up campaigns, enforce sanitation laws, and ensure equitable access to
preventive tools. In resource-limited settings, the economic burden of dengue underscores the need for cost-effective, scalable, and community-friendly solutions (Krystosik et al., 2020; Samal, Gupta and Kumar, 2020; Augustina et al., 2021).
Dengue prevention demands a multifaceted, integrated strategy that aligns technological innovation with environmental management and community participation. Sustainable success lies in adapting interventions to local ecological, social, and economic contexts,
fostering long-term behavior change, and investing in robust surveillance systems. This review underscores that while vector control remains essential, its effectiveness is maximized when supported by informed, engaged communities and responsive policy mechanisms.
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