Identification of surveillance and control priority areas for dengue and other arboviruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti in Natal-RN, Brazil: experience report.

OBJECTIVE: to report the vigi@dengue experience, held in the municipality of Natal-RN, Brazil, from October/2015 to May/2016.

METHODS: entomological indicators were obtained from the oviposition traps, epidemiological indicators from notifications on the online Information System for Notifiable Diseases (Sinan-dengue), active search for cases and viral RNA detection (RTq-PCR) in arthropods and human serum samples; risk levels have been created based on these indicators; categories of interventions for each risk level have been established.

RESULTS: early identification of epidemics in three areas of the municipality, with guidance for field work for the most vulnerable areas; the municipality presented ovitrap positivity index (OPI) of 40% and eggs density index (EDI) of 51 eggs/ovitraps; identification of CHIKV, DENV-1 and DENV-3 in Natal-RN.

CONCLUSION: the strategy identified the early emergence of epidemics in specific locations; it was helpful in the guidance of control measures for the areas of major risk.