Dengue fever has shifted from sporadic outbreaks to seasonal transmission in Kathmandu, driven by rapid urbanization and inadequate water infrastructure. This study assesses the feasibility and impact of a school-based dengue prevention model across six Kathmandu communities. High school students are trained to lead neighborhood workshops on dengue prevention and environmental management, while a validated KAP survey measures changes in community knowledge, attitudes, and practices before and after the intervention. Concurrently, the Mathematical Biology Research Center (MBRC) conducts larval surveys across school catchment areas to map vector density and identify transmission hotspots. Integrating behavioral and entomological data, this study produces the evidence base needed to scale and refine community-led dengue prevention in Nepal.

Current dengue prevention in Kathmandu relies on reactive spraying after outbreaks have already peaked — a strategy that has repeatedly failed. This study tests whether training students to lead community prevention efforts, combined with neighborhood-level vector mapping, can generate a scalable, evidence-based alternative.