Evaluation of premise condition index in the context of Aedes aegypti control in Marília, São Paulo, Brazil

The dengue control programme in Brazil involves house-to-house inspection in each municipality, on a bimonthly basis, for vector control and education activities. The sustainability of this strategy has been questioned due to its failure in interrupting dengue transmission and also by the exhaustion of field workers and lack of active cooperation by populations due to the tedious routine of bimonthly visits to all houses. An evaluation of the infestation of Aedes aegypti by larval, pupal and adult collection, and classification of houses with the premise condition index (PCI) in conjunction with residents ’ housing characteristics was performed in 11 575 houses in Marilia, Sao Paulo state, Brazil. The results showed that the surveillance tool and associated data on resident housing characteristics were useful in identifying heavily infested premises. The index could thus provide a basis for prioritizing control measures within communities during routine vector control activities