EPIDEMIOLOGIC SITUATION OF DENGUE FEVER I N AMERICA - CHALLENGES TO SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL

The recent occurrence of cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever has placed dengue in the agenda of priorities in many countries in the Americas. International efforts directed to the control of the epidemic are supp orted by the epidemiological surveillance of dengue cases and serotype s while control of the vector is still in need of innovative and more effective measures. These are the challenges to be met by, countries i n the region, where the laboratory should be incorporated as the key c omponent of the surveillance system. The medical community requires ad equate training in the diagnosis and treatment of the severe forms of dengue infection nod the community should be deeply involved in the co ntrol strategies. Scant resources in the region impose serious constra ins to the program which should be comprehensive, intensive and well c oordinated. The medical services, the vector control personnel, the su rveillance team, the civil authorities and the community have importan t roles replay in the control of dengue fever.