Abstract
Dengue has caused a substantial public health burden in the Western Pacific Region. To assess this burden and regional trends, data were collated and summarized from indicator-based surveillance systems on dengue cases and deaths from countries and areas in the Western Pacific Region. In 2012, dengue notifications continued to increase with 356,838 dengue cases reported in the Region (relative to 244,855 cases reported in 2011) of which 1248 died. In the Asia subregion, the notification rate was highest in Cambodia, the Philippines and the Lao People's Democratic Republic (316.2, 198.9 and 162.4 per 100,000 population, respectively), and in the Pacific island countries and areas, the notification rate was highest in Niue, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia (8556.0, 337.0 and 265.1 per 100,000 population, respectively). All four serotypes were circulating in the Region in 2012 with considerable variabilitiy in distribution. Regional surveillance provides important information to enhance situational awareness, conduct risk assessments and improve preparedness activities.
Highlights
Response Team, Division of Health Security and Emergencies, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific
Notifications of dengue cases – most likely an underestimate of the true burden4,9 – have increased over the past decade, with more than 200 000 annual cases consistently reported in the Western Pacific Region since 2007,1,2 and nearly 250 000 dengue cases reported in the Region in 2011.2
In 2012, Western Pacific Region Member States reported a total of 356 838 dengue cases of which died for a case fatality rate of 0.34% (Figure 1)
Summary
Response Team, Division of Health Security and Emergencies, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific. I n recent years, dengue has become a major public health concern in the Western Pacific Region, resulting in substantial morbidity, mortality and economic cost.[1,2,3] Such public health and economic burdens have become clear from national surveillance data and from operational research studies aimed at estimating the dengue disease burden.[4] The epidemiology and virology of dengue continues to display complex behaviour with serotype interactions, antibodydependent enhancement and cross-immunity, climate and notable gender and age distributions.[5,6,7,8] Notifications of dengue cases – most likely an underestimate of the true burden4,9 – have increased over the past decade, with more than 200 000 annual cases consistently reported in the Western Pacific Region since 2007,1,2 and nearly 250 000 dengue cases reported in the Region in 2011.2
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
