Abstract:
The objective of the study was to introduce a new technique to monitor dengue vector
breeding and to compare this technique with that in current use in Sri Lanka. The study was
carried out from 15 th July 1995 to 15 th October 1995 in the Dehiwala Medical officer of
health area. The study showed that the ovitrap surveillance technique was more sensitive
and more cost-effective than larval surveillance in detecting aedes breeding both in indoors
and outdoors, in houses in a dengue transmission area in Sri Lanka. This indicates that the
former technique has a higher predictive value as a warning signal in dengue epidemics for
use in control programs. However, the larval surveillance is of value as it showed the types
of container habitats and as such is important in health education programmes for the
prevention of aedes breeding. Results also showed ae. albopictus to be the predominant
species in Colombo suburbs. Thus vector competence studies to define the vectorial
capacity of this species for dengue transmission under local conditions is indicated
