Best Vaccine Against Dengue? Paraguayan Health Ministry Says 'Eliminate Breeding Grounds'

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Dengue is among the most dreaded mosquito infected diseases. There are thousands of cases of dengue each year all over the world and, up to now, the cases of dengue continue to grow.

In fact, it is barely halfway through January but Singapore has already observed unusual trend of dengue in the country, Today reported. The National Environment Agency (NEA) has warned that the figures are likely to rise as the water heats up.

"This change in the main circulating dengue virus may be an early indicator of a future dengue outbreak, unless measures are taken to suppress the Aedes mosquito population," NEA said.

Between Jan. 3 and 9, there were already 554 dengue cases reported, which is 96 more than the 458 cases reported the week before. Another 121 cases surfaced from Jan. 10 to Jan. 11, 3:30 p.m.

These figures are higher compared to the past periods. On January 2013, there were only 125 dengue cases, and, in the same period in 2014, there were about 425. It seemed that the cases continue to grow annually.

How should we solve this?

On Monday, the Paraguayan Health Ministry spoke that the best vaccine for dengue is the elimination of mosquitoes' breeding ground. The ministry also warned that the vaccine administered in some countries is far from being 100 percent efficient, Fox News has learned.

The authorities and the citizens should be active in removing the potential breeding grounds because this epidemic easily starts up following December's rain.

"If we make that small effort as citizens to eliminate breeding grounds, we'll have the best of vaccines, since not only will we prevent the disease but we'll eliminate the carrier," said Sonia Arza, head of the Expanded Immunization Program.

Per the report, Mexico, Brazil and Philippines authorize the use of a vaccine against dengue fever. However, the Paraguayan Health Ministry stressed that no vaccine can eliminate the mosquito that transmits this deadly illness.

Vaccination against dengue is given to individuals between ages 9 and 45. In its trial phase, it gave positive results in 60 percent of cases in the three aforementioned countries.

"No one denies the relevance of the vaccine, but our investment in health care should make us sure to have a powerful impact and not just give us a false sense of security," Arza added.

Dr. Agueda Cabello, director general of Health Watch, noted that the vaccine reduces the hospitalization rate of dengue cases. She added that vaccination offers greater protection for patients who already suffered the disease, and has greater relevance to countries where the disease is endemic or hyperendemic.

Paraguay suffered a dengue outbreak in 2013 where approximately 150,000 people were inflicted and 252 died.

Aside from dengue, Chikungunya and Zika virus are making headlines. All three viruses are transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.