title: An update on the incidence of dengue gaining strength in Saudi Arabia and current control approaches for its vector mosquito.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The cases of dengue reported earlier in the late 1990s from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) occurred in the cities of Jeddah and Makkah. Although the kingdom has ample financial resources to establish effective control measures for the dengue vector, numerous cases of dengue occur and fluctuate in numbers from year to year. This necessitates a serious review of the current vector control strategies being practiced in order to identify the existing shortcomings. This short report provides an update on epidemiology of dengue in KSA (specifically in cities of Jeddah and Makkah) with a critical look at the current vector control strategies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2013, 4411 cases of dengue were reported, with 8 cases of mortality. This number of dengue incidence was four times higher compared to 2012. In 2013, the highest number of 1272 dengue cases was reported in May, while the lowest number (37) of cases was reported in September.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is evident that the control strategies of the dengue vector presently employed are inadequate. There seems to be serious deficiencies in following proper scientific procedures during field application(s) of control materials against the vector as is evident by the increases in the number of dengue cases as well as frequent outbreaks of the vector mosquito populations. In this review, some specific suggestions are made to draw attention to the relevant KSA authorities of the possible reasons behind unsuccessful control results and as to how to improve the strategy of dengue vector control in the kingdom.
authors.forename: Al Thabiani
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia. alshami200@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Salman Abdo
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Al-Shami
authors.forename: Jazem A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mahyoub
authors.forename: Mesed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatabbi
authors.forename: Abu Hassan
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Che Salmah Md
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Rawi
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D003715:Dengue / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods*; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides