There are about 390 million people infected with the dengue virus annually worldwide, triple the World Health Organization’s estimate, researchers from the University of Oxford and the Wellcome Trust reported in the journal Nature.
fever
Scientists at Sanofi Pasteur, however, believe a dengue vaccine is in sightDespite considerable efforts to control mosquito populations, dengue fever has emerged, spread and established itself rapidly
this new comprehensive map of the global dengue fever burden will also help in determining which control measures work best in reducing the incidence of the disease
fever
Scientists at Sanofi Pasteur, however, believe a dengue vaccine is in sightDespite considerable efforts to control mosquito populations, dengue fever has emerged, spread and established itself rapidly
“Our aim was to take all of the evidence that is currently available on the distribution of dengue worldwide and combine it with the latest in mapping and mathematical modelling to produce the most refined risk maps and burden estimates.
We then hope to use this knowledge to help predict the future burden of the disease.”
- Rainfall
- Temperature
- Degree of urbanization – however, in a study reported in PLoS Medicine (August 2011 issue), researchers from the Nagasaki Institute of Tropical Medicine in Japan wrote that people living in rural areas have a higher risk of dengue virus infection than city dwellers.
“We found that climate and population spread were important factors for predicting the current risk of dengue around the world. With globalization and the constant march of urbanization, we anticipate that there could be dramatic shifts in the distribution of the disease in the future: the virus may be introduced to areas that previously were not at risk, and those that are currently affected may experience increases in the number of infections.
We hope that the research will initiate a wider discussion about the significant global impact of this disease.”
“This is the first systematic robust estimate of the extent of dengue. The evidence that we’ve gathered here will help to maximise the value and cost-effectiveness of public health and clinical efforts, by indicating where limited resources can be targeted for maximum possible impact.
With endemic transmission in Asia and the Americas, recent outbreaks in Portugal, the ever-increasing incidence in Africa, and the challenges of making an effective dengue vaccine or controlling the vector, Professor Farrar stresses: “This really does represent a crucial period in the global spread of dengue.”
this new comprehensive map of the global dengue fever burden will also help in determining which control measures work best in reducing the incidence of the disease
Dengue feverbreakbone fever
Aedes aegyptiAedes albopictusAedes aegypti
Aedes aegypti mosquito taking a blood meal from a human
- About two-fifths of the world’s population (2.5 billion people) are currently at risk of dengue fever
- Dengue fever is endemic in more than 100 countries
- About 1 in every 40 patients with DHF die from the disease
- If left untreated, approximately 20% of people with DHF die from the infection