In type III dengue outbreak investigation, a cluster of haemorrhagic dengue cases appears in an urban ward. The entomological index most strongly associated with epidemic risk in urban Aedes aegypti settings is:

• A Larval density index (LDI)
• B House index (HI) >1%
• C Container index (CI) >10%
• D Breteau index (BI) >5 ✓

Explanation

The Breteau Index (number of positive containers per 100 houses inspected) is regarded as the best single entomological indicator for epidemic risk assessment because it accounts for the number and type of water-holding containers per house. A BI >5 is epidemiologically significant. The House Index (% of houses with at least one positive container) is the simplest but least sensitive, as a house with multiple positive containers counts the same as one with a single container. Container Index measures % positive containers and does not relate to house density.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.