To commemorate ASEAN Dengue Day 2025, the Ministry of Health and Save the Children International in Laos announced the upcoming Wolbachia mosquito release in July 2025 under the Driving Down Dengue in Laos (DDDiL) project. With support from the Government of Australia and the World Mosquito Program, the initiative is preparing through intensive health worker training and community outreach in Vientiane Capital, aiming for over 60% public acceptance. Building on the 99% acceptance in Phase I (2023), Phase II is scaling up across 7 districts, targeting 164 villages. The project is also addressing the growing dengue threat linked to climate change and plans further expansion to four provinces between 2026–2028.
Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR – June 15, 2025 – To mark ASEAN Dengue Day, Save the Children International in Laos is proud to announce that its expansion of the ‘Driving Down Dengue in Laos (DDDiL)’ project is now fully operational. In partnership with the Ministry of Health’s Department of Communicable Disease Control, the team is leading comprehensive training for health workers in preparation for the official Wolbachia mosquito release in July 2025.
The 'DDDiL' project is a collaborative effort between the Department of Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Health, and Save the Children, made possible through the generous support from the Government of Australia and the World Mosquito Program.
A public acceptance rate of over 60% is required for the upcoming release, and this assessment is actively in progress. We are optimistic about achieving this, building on the remarkable 99% public acceptance recorded during Phase I of mosquito releases in 2023.
In late May, the Training of Trainer program was successfully conducted. This comprehensive session strengthened health officials' knowledge on dengue, outlined the mosquito release procedure, identified optimal distribution points for mosquito containers, and provided training on the Geographic Information System mapping application for Vientiane Capital.
“These thoroughly trained health officials are now empowered to lead vital training courses for 164 villages and 228 village health volunteers across 7 districts”, addressed Khamlar Phaodavanh, head of the Communicable Disease Control Division, Vientiane Capital Health Department. "This cascading training model is crucial for building robust community-level capacity to combat dengue and prepare for the upcoming Wolbachia release.”
Luke Ebbs, Country Director for Save the Children in Laos, emphasized the global impact of climate change on mosquito-borne diseases. He stated: “Climate change is undeniably exacerbating the threat of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, making innovative and sustainable solutions more critical than ever. The expansion of 'Driving Down Dengue in Laos' and the upcoming Wolbachia release represent a significant step forward in protecting children and communities from this growing health crisis.”
Dengue is a significant public health challenge in Laos, with case numbers typically surging during the warmer and wetter months between May and October. In 2024, the country reported 20,150 dengue cases with 11 dengue-related deaths. Vientiane Capital has been identified as a high-priority area due to its substantial dengue burden.
The DDDiL initiative began its first phase in 2022 and officially launched its second phase in March 2025, significantly scaling up activities across Vientiane Capital. Looking ahead, the project is set for further expansion from 2026 to 2028, reaching Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Savannakhet, and Champasak province.
