Dengue fever is a viral infection that is spread through mosquitoes and is found in tropical and subtropical climates worldwide. It is classified as a vector-borne disease where the vector, the mosquito, carries the virus and transmits it to humans via primary contact with the vector or occasionally through an actively infected person. The infection can progress into severe dengue, a more aggressive and possibly fatal form of the disease.

In Brazil, dengue is found throughout the country, but has recently reported higher incidence rates in the previously protected Southern regions due to the climate change and rising temperatures. Some populations that are disproportionately affected include the elderly, young children, as well as populations with low socioeconomic status.

Our objective is to apply the PERIE framework (Problem, Etiology, Recommendations, Implementation, Evaluation) to develop practical, evidence‑informed recommendations addressing the problem of increasing rates of dengue in Brazil. These recommendations will be grounded in a systematic review of the literature and accompanied by a realistic implementation plan and an evaluation strategy to measure effectiveness.

We chose Brazil as the focus of our project due to its high incidence rates of dengue fever, its recent 2024 epidemic, and the need to expand the country’s various prevention efforts. Our recommendations will involve the intentional release of Wolbachia mosquitoes in various parts of the country, whose bacteria help prevent the spread of viruses like dengue. Our goal is to determine how to effectively implement this intervention, as well as any co-interventions that would support effective mosquito control.