Community participation is essential for the prevention & control of an outbreak of Dengue Fever (DF) / Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF). The community must be encouraged to take steps to protect themselves from mosquitoes by eliminating mosquito breeding sites and taking personal measures such as use of bed nets, mosquito repellents etc. The co-operation of the community is also important during the periodic insecticides spray.

In pockets of high risk, active surveillance of DF / DHF should be encouraged so that first case(s) is (are) immediately reported to the local health authorities.

Co - ordinated efforts by government departments such as sanitation. urban development, education etc. are essential so that risk factors for mosquito breeding can be reduced and other control measures taken up effectively.

In an event of an outbreak, the co-operation of other government departments will help to bring it more effectively under control. An inter departmental committee for outbreak prevention and control should be constituted which should meet more periodically. Panchayat members, key community representatives and NGOs should be included as members of committee. A meeting of the committee should be convended before the expected seasonal increase of water and vector borne diseases. In districts where risk n factors exist, status of control measures of DF / DHF should also be assessed.