Highlights from the Field: Combating Dengue One Fish at a Time, Project Las Delicias, El Salvador

Field Operations Manager Alex Kelly and a group of Global Health Volunteers from Roger Williams University devised an integrated plan to combat the threat of dengue fever - fish. The most common practice used to stunt the growth of larvae (which eventually grow to become mosquitoes, carriers of the virus) is adding a chemical agent known as abate to a household's water trough. While effective, families are averse to using it because this water is consumed on a daily basis. Fish, on the other hand, provide a natural solution by feeding off of the larvae. Over 50 families in Las Delicias already use this method.

Beneficiaries of this project will eventually include every household in the community. The scope of the project includes setting up hatcheries in each sector of the community so there will be a steady source of fish and economic incentive to those taking on the responsibilities of sustaining these efforts. Distribution of the first batch of fish occurred in mid-May. Monitoring of their effectiveness and further distribution will be conducted in the upcoming months.