Innovative Tools for Controlling Dengue Outbreaks in Conflict-Affected Aden, Yemen

Dengue is a mosquito-borne deadly disease that is rapidly spreading across the globe. Because dengue is difficult to diagnose with no curative therapy, it is essential to prevent transmission and outbreaks before they escalate. The vector, Aedes, is extremely hard to target as they preferentially breed in smaller, man-made water containers and bite outside during the day. Aden in Yemen is an urbanized city in a tropical environment with a weak sanitation infrastructure due to the war. This has created the perfect conditions for Aedes mosquitoes to breed at a rapid pace and resultant increase in dengue caseload. The limited health services are unable to cope and dengue is yet another life-threatening disease that adds to the suffering of already traumatized and vulnerable populations in Yemen.