South SFV Today

As dengue fever cases continue to rise globally, a study by Stanford researchers and international collaborators suggests that trash cleanup could significantly reduce the risk of this mosquito-borne disease. The research, published in BMC Infectious Diseases, highlights the impact of regular garbage removal on lowering dengue risk, particularly in Indonesia.

"Dengue fever is a viral illness spread through mosquito bites," explains Joelle Rosser, assistant professor at Stanford's School of Medicine and lead author of the study. "Trash disposal can have a real impact on dengue risk." The study found that children living in households with regular garbage removal had a lower risk of contracting dengue than those surrounded by trash.

The research focused on children up to age 5 in Fiji and Indonesia—two known hotspots for dengue. By age 4 or 5, 71% of children in Fiji and 51% in Indonesia had been infected with dengue. Dr. Isra Wahid from Hasanuddin University in Indonesia notes that these findings "highlight the disproportionate burden of these diseases on children in underserved urban settlements."

Climate change exacerbates conditions favorable for Aedes mosquitoes, which transmit diseases like dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. Warmer temperatures and higher humidity allow mosquitoes to expand their range and live longer. Extreme weather events can also increase mosquito breeding sites.

Wahid points out an unexpected finding: areas experiencing frequent flooding had lower dengue rates due to floodwaters flushing out breeding sites. However, poor waste management can lead to stagnant water post-flooding becoming ideal mosquito habitats.

The RISE (Revitalizing Informal Settlements and their Environment) project aims to upgrade water infrastructures to build resilience against climate change impacts like flooding and infectious disease outbreaks. The project involves collaborations between Stanford researchers and local experts across various fields.

Rosser has received a $1 million K23 Career Grant from the National Institutes of Health to track young children's infection rates over several years as part of the RISE intervention.

"For many people, climate change is very anxiety-provoking," Rosser said. "But there are ways we can minimize its impacts on health—and reducing trash is one of them."

The research was funded by grants from organizations including the NIH K32 grant, ASTMH-Burroughs Wellcome Trust grant, and Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health Seed Grant.