Key Findings

Baseline measurements were taken in August 2018 at the start of the study, and then, following introduction of the interventions in arm 1 (biophysical interventions and empowerment interventions) and arm 2 (biophysical interventions only), measurements were taken in February 2019 and in August 2019.

The baseline surveys showed no significant differences in mosquito indices (adult mosquitoes and larvae/pupae) between the intervention areas (arm 1 and arm 2) and the control area (arm 3). There was also no significant difference shown six months after the study had begun. However, one year after the study had begun, the mosquito indices in the intervention areas were significantly lower than in the control. Essentially, the interventions are reducing the numbers of mosquitoes.

People have shown a willingness to participate in meetings and, through participatory epidemiological mapping, locals are also learning about inter-related risks and how they need to act together to reduce sources of transmission.

A summary of preliminary findings:

• Adult mosquito mass trapping: 353 548 female Aedes mosquitoes were trapped over 6 months (May–October 2019) in a total of 6638 traps.

• Mosquito larval surveys in household containers in August 2019 showed a strong reduction in the Intervention Arms compared to Control Arm.

• Success in guppy fish community uptake: the percentage of households in the intervention communities who had guppy fish increased from 11% in August 2018 to 42% in August 2019.

• Guppy fish use in the control areas is also increasing as awareness is spreading.

• The interventions are proving to be effective in lowering mosquito numbers.

“You can see that a lot of different components of the civil society has been willing to contribute and demonstrate enthusiasm for that. So for me it shows that momentum is being created towards sustainably engaging and empowering local communities to become the actors of decentralised surveillance for example or decentralised vector control, so that’s a highlight for me.” – Dr Pierre Echaubard, Co-PI SESR-based strategies in Cambodia

"We try to get people to engage in a package, a set of activities, which is basically mass mosquito trapping: using ordinary plain old plastic recycled bottles, converted into a simple trap; providing them with guppy fish that they can stock the household water containers with; covering water containers when they don’t want fish; cleaning the environment of coconut husks and empty bottles and tins and tyres etcetera. And to find that within the space of one year, people have grasped those opportunities and implemented them in a way where it’s clear beyond any dispute, beyond any argument that these interventions are actually working.” – Dr Leo Braack, Co-PI SESR-based strategies in Cambodia