GX’s “Project for Health Protection against Dengue Fever” shows remarkable success in combatting dengue epidemic in Timor-Leste, published in The Lancet

GX has achieved significant success in its “Project for Health Protection against Dengue Fever” in Timor-Leste, demonstrating the effectiveness of physical vector control measures in reducing dengue virus transmission. The findings, published in The Lancet, highlight a 10% overall reduction in dengue incidence in Timor-Leste during the 2024 dengue season, contrasting sharply with neighbouring countries that experienced a 2–3 times increase in cases.

The article, authored by GX’s leadership and project team, includes contributions from: CEO Professor CHAN Ying-yang Emily and Assistant Dean (External Affairs) at the Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong; Caroline DUBOIS, Programme Director (Research and Development) and Adjunct Tutor in The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care at the Chinese University of Hong Kong; CHAN Cheuk-yu Andrea, Projet Officer (Timor-Leste); and Chairman LEUNG Chun-ying.

Background

Dengue virus, classified as a WHO Grade 3 emergency, infected over 10 million individuals globally in 2024. With no population-effective prophylaxis or direct treatment available, vector control remains the most critical intervention to protect the 3.9 billion people at risk worldwide. Traditional methods, such as chemical spraying and biological control programmes, have proven costly, logistically challenging, and ecologically uncertain.

In January 2024, GX Foundation, in collaboration with the Timor-Leste government and supported by the Chinese Ambassador to Timor-Leste, launched the “Pilot Project for Health Protection against Dengue Fever”. This initiative aimed to address the rising dengue cases in Timor-Leste, which had reached abnormal levels since late 2021. The pilot programme introduced a holistic, non-chemical, and non-biological approach, distributing five-part kits—anti-mosquito lamps, rapid diagnostic kits, fly traps, insecticide-treated nets, and educational posters—across all 14 municipalities in the country.

Building on the success of the pilot programme, GX Foundation officially launched the extended “Project for Health Protection against Dengue Fever” in July 2024. This expanded 2-year initiative aims to enhance health protection levels in Timor-Leste and serve as a model for other vector-borne disease control programmes in the region. The project includes nationwide outreach activities, with visits to national and referral hospitals and engagements at community health centres to provide essential health services and educational programmes. These efforts focus on raising awareness, improving prevention measures, and offering treatment to those affected by dengue fever.

Programme Methodology and Findings

GX Foundation’s physical vector control programme targets all stages of dengue transmission:

• Anti-mosquito lamps electrocuted adult mosquitoes, the primary carriers of the dengue virus.
• Rapid diagnostic kits enabled early detection of both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases, facilitating timely treatment and isolation.
• Insecticide-treated nets physically isolated infected individuals, preventing further transmission.
• Fly traps improved environmental hygiene by reducing mosquito breeding sites.
• Educational posters raised awareness and promoted community engagement in dengue prevention.

The results were striking:

• Timor-Leste reported a 10% overall reduction in dengue incidence during the 2024 dengue season, while neighbouring countries like Indonesia and Singapore saw a 2–3 times increase in cases.
• In the capital city Dili, dengue incidence dropped from 77% in 2023 to 46% in 2024.
• The availability of rapid diagnostic kits not only improved early diagnosis and treatment but also reduced unnecessary hospital visits, further curbing transmission.

Significance of the Programme

The success of GX Foundation’s programme underscores the viability of low-cost, non-chemical, and non-biological interventions for dengue control, particularly in low-resource settings. Unlike traditional methods, which often face logistical and ecological challenges, physical vector control offers an immediate and sustainable solution to combat dengue epidemics.

Chairman LEUNG Chun-ying emphasised GX’s dual focus on practical implementation and academic rigour:
“GX is not just a hands-on team delivering projects on the ground in project countries; we are also deeply committed to advancing scientific research and knowledge. While we share the compassion and expertise of the Chinese people, we also strive to contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions to global challenges through academic journals, ensuring that Chinese knowledge is shared and applied to solve real-world problems.”

CEO Professor CHAN Ying-yang Emily highlighted the importance of evidence-based approaches:
“To effectively implement various humanitarian projects across diverse countries, GX has maintained strong partnerships with academic institutions, ensuring that our solutions are evidence-based and impactful. I would like to extend special recognition to our two young colleagues, who, in addition to their on-the-ground project work, have diligently collected data and written articles, enabling GX’s achievements to be published in a prestigious academic journal for the very first time.”

Note to Editors:
The full correspondence, “Dengue virus epidemic: physical vector control success in Timor-Leste”, is published in The Lancet and available online at https://bit.ly/4bEyLUY