Abstract
To apply the temporal-spatial model to assess high-risk areas for the occurrence of dengue fever. A total of 11,989 confirmed, autochthonous dengue fever cases, geocoded by address in the city of São José do Rio Preto (Southeastern Brazil), between September of 2001 and August of 2006, were included in the study. Frequency, duration and intensity indices were used to assess the severity and magnitude of transmission. The local indicator of spatial association was adopted to identify significant spatial clusters (p-value<0.05). The values of the three indices were considered high in a spatial unit when their standard values were positive and the respective local indicator of spatial association values were significant. Of all the geocoded dengue fever cases, 38.1% occurred in the urban spatial units, classified as highest-risk: 19.4% in 2001-2002, 13.9% in 2002-2003, 2.8% in 2003-2004, 16.7% in 2004-2005, and 21.3% in 2005-2006. The utilization of three risk measures enabled to identify higher-risk areas for the occurrence of dengue fever, concentrated in the city's northern region. Even though case notification data are subject to bias, this information is available in the health services and can lead to important conclusions, recommendations and hypotheses. The non-complex, notification-based procedures adopted in the study could be routinely used by services that are responsible for dengue fever surveillance and control to identify high-risk areas.
Highlights
Nowadays, dengue fever is considered the most important viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes in the world, which incidence has increased 30 times in the last 50 years
Of all the geocoded dengue fever cases, 38.1% occurred in the urban spatial units, classified as highest-risk: 19.4% in 2001-2002, 13.9% in 2002-2003, 2.8% in 2003-2004, 16.7% in 2004-2005, and 21.3% in 2005-2006
It is estimated that 2.5 billion people are at risk in more than 100 endemic countries; more than 50 million infections occur annually with 500,000 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever and 22,000 deaths, especially among children.a
Summary
Dengue fever is considered the most important viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes in the world, which incidence has increased 30 times in the last 50 years. It is estimated that 2.5 billion people are at risk in more than 100 endemic countries; more than 50 million infections occur annually with 500,000 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever and 22,000 deaths, especially among children.a. The reasons for the global reappearance of dengue epidemics are not fully understood, but they are related to demographic and social changes, including the increase in population flow.[12] Growth in population, rural-urban migration, a World Health Organization.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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
