Traditional mosquito vector control methods have proved ineffective in controlling the spread of dengue fever. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of community engagement through student-led science in promoting dengue prevention and socioecological factors in the temperate urban city of Córdoba, Argentina. It assesses community perceptions, knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices regarding dengue fever and its vector. Results showed a significant increase in knowledge about the vector and the disease and respondents’ adoption of good preventive practices. Student-led science was identified as a valuable tool for reaching households and leading to behavior changes at home. Furthermore, the findings highlighted the need for school programs to address vector biology and vector-borne disease prevention all year round. This study provides invaluable insights into the effectiveness of community engagement through student-led science to promote dengue prevention and socioecological factors. The findings suggest that this approach could be used to control the spread in other regions affected by the disease.

Dengue fever is a major mosquito-borne disease whose transmission is influenced by climatic, environmental, and demographic factors. Colombia is a hyperendemic country, yet long-term local-scale studies remain limited. This study assessed the relationships between dengue incidence and environmental, climatic, and demographic predictors in Santa Marta, Colombia. Weekly dengue case counts from 2009 to 2023 were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models with a negative binomial distribution. Epidemiological data were integrated with remotely sensed environmental variables, including vegetation indices (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index [NDVI] and Normalized Difference Water Index [NDWI]), daytime and nighttime Land Surface Temperature (LST), precipitation, and human population density. Lagged environmental effects (1–4 weeks) and biologically plausible interactions were evaluated. A total of 9237 dengue cases were recorded during the study period. The best-fitting model identified significant positive associations between dengue incidence and NDVI (P < 0.001). Significant negative associations were observed for maximum daytime LST at a one-week lag (P < 0.001), minimum nighttime LST at a four-week lag (P < 0.001), NDWI at a one-week lag (P = 0.018), and precipitation at a four-week lag (P < 0.001). Population density significantly strengthened the positive effect of NDVI on dengue cases. Dengue transmission in Santa Marta is shaped by complex and delayed interactions among environmental, climatic, and demographic factors. Vegetation cover increased dengue risk, particularly in densely populated areas, whereas excessive rainfall and high temperatures were associated with reduced incidence. These findings support the development of One Health-based surveillance and early-warning systems for dengue prevention.

Climate change is expected to exacerbate the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect in the coming decades by altering the structure and function of urban ecosystems and impacting human health. This research assesses the dynamics of the UHI effect in the city of Córdoba, Argentina, by analyzing temperature trends over the past 19 years. Urban areas were classified into five classes using satellite imagery. Monthly average daytime and nighttime MODIS Land Surface Temperature (LST) were used to assess thermal differences across urban classes and temporal trends. Daytime urban cooling occurred during the winter and heating during the summer, while at nighttime, the city experienced heating year-round. Over 19 years, urban areas presented the highest significant increase in temperature during nighttime, with some areas also experiencing increases during both day and night. Shrublands and crops also showed an increase in LST, particularly during nighttime. Increasing trends in LST during the night overlap with 89.2 % of the population, 90.5 % of households, and 87 % of households with unsatisfied basic needs. The population of the city of Córdoba is highly exposed to the UHI, and the exposure is intensifying, potentially leading to heat-related diseases, spreading disease vectors such as mosquitoes, increasing energy and water consumption, and decreasing the overall quality of life for city dwellers.

Background: During 2019-2020 while COVID-19 pandemic, the Americas were facing the biggest dengue fever epidemic in recent history. Traditional vector control programs, based on insecticide application have been insufficient to control the spread of dengue fever. Several studies suggest refocusing on education with the aim of an integrated vector management strategy within the local ecological-community context. We aim to assess community perceptions, knowledge, attitude, preventive practice, and action through student-led science assignments regarding dengue fever, prevention, and socio-ecological factors in temperate Córdoba, Argentina. Methods: The study was conducted during the COVID-19 quarantine when schools switched to online education for the first time. Several activities through Google Classroom platform included a survey to one student’s family member, and an outdoor activity to assess their attitudes and to clean the backyard and gardens. Results: Significant number of respondents developed good preventive practices and increased their knowledge about the vector and disease highlighting that 75% of responders knew that dengue fever was transmitted by a mosquito, 81.96% declared having obtained knowledge regarding dengue and vector through television, 56% affirm that dengue is a severe illness, 67% of respondents admitted that individuals play an important role in the prevention of dengue. Regarding mosquito control activities, 90% of respondents reported turning containers. Conclusions: This highlights the need for school programs with curricula to address vector biology and the prevention of vector-borne diseases not only during activity periods when mosquitoes batter people but all year long to do real prevention.

According to the World Health Organization, dengue is among the top ten global health threats. The invasion of new sites by Aedes aegypti and their permanence depends on environmental characteristics of the site. Therefore, the objective was to understand the environmental characteristics that affect Ae. aegypti distribution in Córdoba city, Argentina. This evaluation was carried out through species distribution models, using maximum entropy modeling technique, incorporating a set of environmental variables known to influence the presence and suitability of Ae. aegypti habitats. The factors evaluated included both meteorological variables, such as minimum and maximum temperature and average precipitation, land cover characteristics like vegetation index and built-up index, and population count. Temperature and precipitation conditions constrain the development and survival of the vector. Vegetation can act as a temperature regulator and provide resting sites, while populated and built-up areas relate to the availability of breeding sites and blood sources. The results indicate that Ae. aegypti habitat suitability is determined by human population count (permutation importance: 89 in 2015, 80.9 in 2017), the amount of built-up areas (61.7, 80.8), vegetation greenness (70.7, 55.9), and minimum temperature (42.2, 92.6). Human population manifested a positive effect on the habitat suitability as well as minimum temperature, while vegetation and the amount of built-up areas showed a quadratic relationship. In this study, we incorporate temperature and precipitation as spatial variables, which were not considered in similar studies in Córdoba City. Our study's results highlight that although demographic and land cover variables prevailed in importance, meteorological variables are also good predictors of spatial distribution of Ae. aegypti at the local scale. The importance of generating maps and/or models to identify the distribution of mosquito habitats lies in the fact that they can show vulnerable areas and guide stakeholders efforts on public health prevention. Also, they can direct actions to vector control and, consequently, the pathogens they transmit.