Larva indices and Dengue Fever in Lampang Province

Abstract

          This descriptive cross sectional study aims to determine the relationship between larvae indices and the number of dengue cases in the endemic area of Lampang Province. 171 villages were surveyed by the Vector Borne Disease Control Center to know the larvae indices and select dengue case reported by Lampang provincial health office. The data were collected, complied and analyzed. Premise positive (House Index, HI) was classified into three categories. 28.07% (48/171) indicate HJI = 0-4.99, 39.77% (68/171) and 32.16% (55/171) indicated HI = 5.00 – 9.99 and HI>10 respectively. In addition, 97.08% (166/171) showed high level of Container Index (CI>0). While 38.18% (21 out of 55 village) of dengue patients lived in the villages where HI>10, where as 29.41% (20 out of 68 village) and 29.17% (14 out of 48 village) were residents in the areas of HI = 5.00-9.99 and 0-4.99 respectively. The results determined that no dengue cases were reported in the areas where CI was low (CI=0). Furthermore, there was no significant association between Aedes larvae indices and the number of dengue cases in the study  areas (p>0.05). Given high or low larvae indices, the study area has the same potential of dengue outbreak, However to classify the level of the risk factor based on larva indices and dengue xases would be beneficial for disease surveillance and planning of disease control.