Outbreak Of Dengue Fever Research Articles

Impact of the 2023 armed conflict on Sudan's healthcare system

AbstractThe armed conflict in Sudan erupted in mid‐April 2023, resulting in many casualties, internal displacement, and refugees. Sudan's health system was severely affected by multiple attacks on healthcare facilities and workers, closure of hospitals, and occupation of medical facilities by armed groups. Critical services such as immunization, nutrition, and emergency care have been suspended, disrupting health services in conflict states and increasing strain on neighboring states' healthcare facilities. The conflict also caused shortages of essential medical supplies, looting of healthcare facilities and humanitarian supplies, and destruction of infrastructure, affecting the supply chain and availability of healthcare resources. The deployment and distribution of the health workforce have become challenging and may lead to a further brain drain of healthcare professionals. The financial challenges in healthcare financing are expected to worsen due to the conflict's economic impact on fiscal space and fiscal capacity. The health system's governance has been affected by a leadership vacuum, and decision‐making may shift to the state level. The conflict has also exacerbated the burden of diseases, including communicable diseases, malnutrition, and mental health issues, with potential outbreaks of dengue fever, measles, and spikes of gender‐based violence reported. In response to the conflict, the restoration and maintenance the health system is pivotal via coordinating efforts between the Sudanese Ministry of Health and international partners. The safety of healthcare workers and the delivery of essential supplies need to be restored via strengthening compliance with international humanitarian law, pooling of funds, and services at primary care level. This commentary discusses the impact of the 2023 conflict on Sudan's health and health system, particularly on different building blocks of Sudan's health system as well as the burden of disease and humanitarian response priorities.

Faktor-Faktor Yang Berhubungan Dengan Pencegahan Penyakit Demam Berdarah Dangue (DBD) Di Desa Pulau Panggung Wilayah Kerja UPTD Puskesmas Tanjung Agung Kabupaten Muara Enim Tahun 2023

Background: World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the number of reported cases of dengue fever has increased more than 8-fold over the last 4 years, from 505,000 cases increasing to 4.2 million in 2022. The number of reported deaths has also increased from 403 to 960. Not only is the number of cases increasing as the disease spread to new regions including Asia, but explosive outbreaks also occurred. The threat of a possible dengue fever outbreak now exists in Asia.Objective: Know the factors related to preventive measures for dengue fever dengue (DBD) in Pulau Panggang Village, Tanjung Agung Community Health Center, Muara Enim Regency in 2023 Method: This research has an analytical approach cross sectional use chi square. This research sample uses probability sampling totaling 91 respondents. This research uses univariate and bivariate analysis. Results: The results of bivariate analysis showed a significant relationship between knowledge and prevention of dengue fever range p-value 0.003, there is a significant relationship between attitude and prevention of dengue fever range p-value 0.002, there is a significant relationship between education and the prevention of dengue fever range p-value 0.003, there is a significant relationship between knowledge and prevention of dengue fever range p-value 0,004. Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between knowledge, attitudes, education and family support and the prevention of dengue fever.

Frequent outbreaks of dengue fever in South Asian countries-A correspondence analyzing causative factors and ways to avert.

Frequent outbreaks of dengue fever in South Asian countries-A correspondence analyzing causative factors and ways to avert.

Aspergillus coinfection in critically Ill patients with severe dengue

In 2014–2015, a significant outbreak of dengue fever occurred in southern Taiwan, with a subsequent decline in dengue incidence. Despite this, there is emerging concern about virus-associated aspergillosis, yet limited research has explored coinfections involving dengue and aspergillosis. We conducted a retrospective study at a single center in Southern Taiwan, specifically focusing on dengue patients admitted to the intensive care unit during the period between July and November 2015. Among the 142 dengue patients studied, only 8.06 % (10/142) underwent serum galactomannan testing, with a single patient undergoing bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) galactomannan assay. Out of those tested, 20 % (2/10) returned positive serum galactomannan results. Herein, we present two consecutive cases of coinfection involving dengue and pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompetent patients.

Public Fear and Risk Perception During Dengue Fever Outbreak in Taiwan.

This study aimed to understand the public reaction to the 2015 dengue outbreak in Taiwan by determining the key influencing factors. A total of 1104 respondents aged 18 years and over, were recruited by telephone between November 20 and 28, 2015, to investigate fear, risk perception, and psychological distress during the dengue outbreak. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that fear of dengue was more prevalent in the areas that were most affected, as well as those with infected friends or relatives. Fear was also more pronounced among females and the elderly group, especially in terms of perceived risk of infection, severity of the infection, the uncertain cured rate, the adverse effects on daily life, in which all lead to psychological distress. Fear of dengue fever, perceived risk of dengue infection, and psychological distress associated with the dengue fever pandemic were the main variables investigated in this study. Since media mass can serve as a unified platform for all public health communications, it is recommended that the government utilizes the power of media to deliver pandemic prevention measures. Specifically, health education interventions related to risk communication should focus on the most infected areas while taking gender and age into consideration.

Effects of the source of information and knowledge of dengue fever on the mosquito control behavior of residents of border areas of Yunnan, China

BackgroundStrengthening the mosquito control measures undertaken by residents of an area where dengue fever is present can significantly decrease the spread of this disease. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of the source of information and knowledge of dengue fever on the mosquito control behavior of residents of areas at high risk of this disease to determine effective ways of enhancing this behavior.MethodsA survey was conducted via face-to-face interviews or questionnaires between March and May 2021 in three regions of the province of Yunnan, China. The survey included basic information about the respondents, the source(s) of their dengue fever information, the level of their dengue fever knowledge, and the measures they had implemented to control mosquitoes. Principal component analysis was used to extract the main components of the sources of information. Correlation analysis and structural equation analysis were used to explore the impact of the sources of information and residents’ dengue fever knowledge on their mosquito control behavior.ResultsPublicity achieved through mass media, including official WeChat accounts, magazines/newspapers, poster leaflets, television/radio and the Internet, had a direct effect on dengue fever knowledge and mosquito control behavior, and indirectly affected mosquito control behavior through dengue fever knowledge. Organized publicity campaigns, including information provided by medical staff and through community publicity, had a direct effect on dengue fever knowledge and indirectly affected mosquito control behavior through dengue fever knowledge. The residents’ level of dengue fever knowledge had a significant, positive, direct effect on their mosquito control behavior.ConclusionsMosquito control is an important measure for the prevention and control of outbreaks of dengue fever. An effective source of information can improve the level of dengue fever knowledge among residents and thus enhance their mosquito control behavior.Graphical

The Density of Aedes albopictus in a High-Latitude and High-Risk Dengue Fever Transmission Region in Shandong Province, Northern China.

Background: A total of 79 cases of dengue fever were reported in Jining County in 2017, which is currently the northernmost focal point of local cases of dengue fever diagnosed in China. This study aimed to evaluate the density of mosquito vectors before and after the outbreak of dengue fever and provide novel reference data for the prevention and control of the disease. Methods: The light traps were set to collect mosquitoes in 2017 and 2018 to assess adult mosquito density and species composition. We used the human-baited double net trap to determine the biting rate. In addition, the Breteau index (BI) was calculated to evaluate the density of Aedes albopictus in Jining, Shandong Province. The annual average densities of Ae. albopictus in 2017 and 2018 were 0.046 and 0.066 f/t/h, respectively. Results: The average biting rate was 0.69 f/m/h in 2018. There was no significant difference found in Ae. albopictus density and biting rate in the various months. The average BI of Jining was 38.67 and 11.17, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference observed in the BI between 2017 and 2018 (Kruskal-Wallis test, χ2 = 16.926, df = 1, p < 0.001). Conclusion: BI can serve as an important indicator to determine the spread of dengue fever. The findings indicted that the growing density of adult Aedes mosquitoes should be focused on, with biting rates being a potential indicator of future outbreaks. Overall, the various control measures that were implemented were effective and should be introduced in other high-risk areas.

The Level of Knowledge of Parents about Dengue Fever Prevention at Puskesmas II South Denpasar

The level of parental knowledge is still 24%, which is of sufficient value regarding the prevention of dengue hemorrhagic fever in children 5-14 years and this is one of the problems with dengue fever outbreaks. This study aims to determine the level of knowledge of parents about the prevention of dengue fever in children 5-14 years. The study was conducted at Puskesmas II Denpasar Selatan in February-April 2021. The population of this study are parents who have children aged 5-14 years. Research method with descriptive method, the number of samples is 58 respondents with total sampling technique. Measuring tool used is a questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive statistics. The results showed that the knowledge level of the respondents showed an average score of 20.57 (good), then the lowest score was 16 (enough) and the highest score was 25 (good), and most of them had good knowledge as many as 44 respondents (75.9%) and 14 respondents (24, 1%) sufficient knowledge. Based on the age of 36-45 years as many as 30 respondents (51.7%). Female gender as many as 31 respondents (53.4%). Jobs as private employees were 28 respondents (48.3%). SMA / SMK education as many as 22 respondents (37.9%). The conclusion of this study is that the level of knowledge of parents is still 24% of sufficient value and the others have a good level of knowledge. It is recommended to improve educational programs as a basis for preventing dengue fever in the family

Digital Mapping of Dengue Mosquito Movement towards Weather Factors, Mosquito Density, and Cultural Factors in Jember Regency

&lt;div&gt;&lt;table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"&gt;&lt;tbody&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td align="left" valign="top"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;This study aims to map a digital movement of the Aedes aegypti mosquito in high-risk areas for dengue fever outbreaks, taking into account the public’s knowledge of dengue fever, attitude towards their environment, action towards the environment, environment conditions of the community, weather and climate factors, and mosquito density assessed through the House Index(HI). &lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;This study is a quantitative observational analytic research with a cross-sectional design&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;. &lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;The result of the linear regression test on the cultural variable of knowledge, attitudes, and family support showed an value of &lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;α&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt; &amp;gt;0,05, indicating the knowledge, attitude, and family support are not important internal factors in aeradicating dengue fever. Mainwhile, the action and community leader support variable showed value &lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;α&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt; &amp;lt;0,05, which are important internal and external factors in reducing dengue fever levels. Then, HI value for these sub-districts is 6-7, meaning thet the mosquito density is high. The Aedes aegypti mosquito buffer zone has a flying distance 200 meters according to the CDC, so ares within that reach can be affected. This is clarified by using a digital map of the risk area of the Aedes aegypti mosquito causing dengue fever. In conclution, the digital map that includes cultural data, aera characteristics starting from weather, climate, population density, altitude, temperatue, humadity, and characteristics of mosquitoes inhabiting an area, whether they are clustered os spread, can cause the movement of dengue fever mosquitoes or Aedes aegypti to become more aggressive in their activities. So, the internal and external factors in the habitat of the Aedes aegypti mosquito can cause its movement to become more dunamic in spreading the dengue virus.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;p align="justify"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Keywords: Aedes aegypti Mosquito, Culture, Dengue Fever, GIS (Geographic Information System)&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Implementasi Kebijakan Penanggulangan Demam Berdarah Dengue di Kota Sampang Jawa Timur

Aides aegypti or Aides albopictus is a type of mosquito that carries and transmits dengue virus to humans. Dengue hemorrhagic fever appears as an Extraordinary Event (KLB), causing panic in the community because it has the risk of causing death and spreads very quickly. Based on records from the Directorate for Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (P2PM) until Week 36, the cumulative number of confirmed cases of DHF from January 2022 was reported as 87,501 cases (IR 31.38/100,000 population) and 816 deaths (CFR 0.93%). Sampang Regency, East Java, is currently starting to anticipate the possibility of an outbreak of dengue fever. After the local regency government released three districts that were considered prone to Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF), namely Sampang District, Omben District and Torjun District. The Health and Family Planning Service (Dinkes-KB) of Sampang Regency, East Java, noted that cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) in the area have decreased in 2021 compared to the number of cases that occurred in previous years. This study aims to determine the implementation of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) prevention policies in Sampang District and what are the inhibiting factors. In this study, researchers used a qualitative descriptive method that used data collection such as interviews, observation and documentation studies. Based on the research results in assessing the Implementation of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) Management Policies in Sampang Regency, it has not been maximized when viewed from several indicators of evaluating the implementation of public policies, namely (1) Policy resources such as a lack of health workers, sufficient health facilities and funds, (2) ) the disposition or attitude of the executors is not firm and the lack of community participation in PSN activities, (3) economic, social and political conditions that are not conducive.

Dengue transmission dynamics prediction by combining metapopulation networks and Kalman filter algorithm.

Predicting the specific magnitude and the temporal peak of the epidemic of individual local outbreaks is critical for infectious disease control. Previous studies have indicated that significant differences in spatial transmission and epidemic magnitude of dengue were influenced by multiple factors, such as mosquito population density, climatic conditions, and population movement patterns. However, there is a lack of studies that combine the above factors to explain their complex nonlinear relationships in dengue transmission and generate accurate predictions. Therefore, to study the complex spatial diffusion of dengue, this research combined the above factors and developed a network model for spatiotemporal transmission prediction of dengue fever using metapopulation networks based on human mobility. For improving the prediction accuracy of the epidemic model, the ensemble adjusted Kalman filter (EAKF), a data assimilation algorithm, was used to iteratively assimilate the observed case data and adjust the model and parameters. Our study demonstrated that the metapopulation network-EAKF system provided accurate predictions for city-level dengue transmission trajectories in retrospective forecasts of 12 cities in Guangdong province, China. Specifically, the system accurately predicts local dengue outbreak magnitude and the temporal peak of the epidemic up to 10 wk in advance. In addition, the system predicted the peak time, peak intensity, and total number of dengue cases more accurately than isolated city-specific forecasts. The general metapopulation assimilation framework presented in our study provides a methodological foundation for establishing an accurate system with finer temporal and spatial resolution for retrospectively forecasting the magnitude and temporal peak of dengue fever outbreaks. These forecasts based on the proposed method can be interoperated to better support intervention decisions and inform the public of potential risks of disease transmission.

Assessment of waste disposal practices among residents in Mappedu, Thiruvallur district, Tamilnadu

Introduction : Solid waste is the unneeded or useless which are not liquid or gas generated from human activities in residential, industrial or commercial areas. Various types of solid waste are Municipal waste, Industrial waste, Construction and demolition waste, Electronic waste, Hazardous waste. Outbreak of Dengue fever was most common among the residents of Thiruvallur in 2019. The investigation was started to identify the potential exposure and possible recommendation and education to the villagers on waste management. Hence the aim of the research was to investigate the rural resident’s practices in solid waste disposal and their health hazard implications to the community in Mappedu village. Materials and methods : Two methods such as the observation and questionnaire survey was employed in the current research. No waste collection system was present in the village based on observation method. Dumping of waste was most common among the villagers and burning of waste were also common as there was inadequate awareness among the people as burning waste produces harmful gases. Diseases which are very prone to lack of hygiene such as dengue, malaria, diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, typhoid and worm diseases were projected from the questionnaire. To minimize the risk of environment and human health appropriate hygiene practices and proper disposal of waste needs to be practiced. Results : Most of the rural residents disposed the waste at a common point and minimal waste were burnt. There was a significant difference between the frequency of hospital visits and the waste disposal method. Conclusion : The villagers must be educated on the proper solid waste management as it leads to deteriorating health and be fatal.

Environmental Variables Related to Aedes aegypti Breeding Spots and the Occurrence of Arbovirus Diseases

Outbreaks of dengue fever, Zika and chikungunya are realities that manifest themselves in almost the entire world. These are diseases whose main vector is Aedes aegypti. This is a synanthropic that needs three factors in order to survive: water, food, and shelter, which are available under favorable socio-environmental conditions. The goal of this work was to identify and evaluate the pertinence of environmental variables that can allow the growth of Aedes aegypti breeding spots and the eventual increase of dengue fever, Zika and chikungunya in rural areas. A systematic literature review was conducted by searching for works published in bibliometric databases, and the results were analyzed in qualitative and quantitative forms (statistical analysis). This search found 1007 works, of which 50 were considered pertinent to the subject. Each work was analyzed individually, and 16 distinct variables were found to be relevant and were afterward grouped into three categories: sanitation (SAN), climatology (CLIM) and socio-environmental factors, which are named “integrative” (INT) variables. The use of two or more categories was present in 52% of the works, highlighting the SAN + INT combination. Around 16% of the works have included rural areas, relating the arbovirus diseases in these regions to socio-economic and sanitation conditions. The paper analyses the impact of water characteristics on the growth of the mosquito, as well as on the increase of the three diseases. The monitoring of these 16 variables may allow for better arbovirus disease control and could be integrated into entomological vigilance programs for helping make decision processes concerning the prevention of diseases associated with water.

Detection of dengue virus infection in children presenting with fever in Hawassa, southern Ethiopia

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection, with rising incidence globally. Eastern Ethiopia has had dengue fever outbreaks in recent years. However, the extent to which the infection contributes to hospital presentation among children with fever in southern Ethiopia is unknown. We examined 407 stored plasma samples collected to investigate the aetiology of fever in children aged at least 2 months and under 13 years presenting to the outpatient of the largest tertiary hospital in southern Ethiopia. We analyzed samples for dengue virus non-structural 1 antigen using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The median (interquartile range) age of the 407 children examined was 20 (10–48) months, and 166 (40.8%) of the children were females. Of 407 samples analyzed, 9 (2.2%) were positive for dengue virus non-structural 1 antigen, of whom 2 were initially treated with antimalarial drugs despite having negative malaria microscopy, and 1 of the 8 patients had a persistent fever at the seventh day of follow-up time. The presence of active dengue virus infection in the study area highlights the need for studies at the community level as well as the integration of dengue diagnostics into fever-management strategies. Further research to characterize circulating strains is warranted.

Isolation and Genetic Evolution of Dengue Virus from the 2019 Outbreak in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China.

Background: Dengue virus (DENV) can be divided into four serotypes-DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4. In humans, infection leads to dengue fever (DF), dengue hemorrhagic fever, and dengue shock syndrome, both widely prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions. In 2019, a severe outbreak of DF occurred in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province. Objective: To investigate the etiology and genotype of the causative agents of this severe dengue outbreak in Xishuangbanna. Methods: Between October and November 2019, the sera of patients clinically diagnosed with DF were collected in the first People's Hospital of Xishuangbanna. RNA was extracted from the sera and amplified by RT-PCR with flavivirus primers. Flavivirus-positive sera were then used to inoculate Aedes albopictus cells (C6/36); viral RNA was extracted from these cells, amplified, and sequenced with DENV E gene-specific primers. Sequence splicing and nucleotide homology genetic evolution analysis were carried out by biological software (DNAStar). Unique mutations in the E genes of isolated DENV were analyzed by SWISS-MODEL and PyMOL. Results: Of the 60 samples collected from DF patients, 39 tested positively with flavivirus primers. The DENV was isolated from 25 of the 39 positive seras, of which 20 showed cytopathic effects (CPE) and 5 were no CPE. In these 25 isolated nucleic acids, 21 strains of DENV-1, 3 strains of DENV-2, and 1 strain of DENV-3 were identified according to the sequence of E protein. In the four unique mutations (D52, Y149, L312, T386), D52 and Y149 in the E protein of DENV-1 were predicted to be exposed on the surface of the prefusion conformation. Conclusion: The 2019 outbreak of DF in Xishuangbanna area of Yunnan Province consists of at least three serotypes of DENV-1, DENV-2, and DENV-3, and the sources of these virus strains are of mixed and complicated origin.

Qualitative review of dengue fever outbreak in dire Dawa City, Ethiopia, 2021: a thematic analysis approach

: In the past 15 years, there has been a dramatic increase in the global incidence of dengue and its severe manifestations, such as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Epidemics in endemic countries are occurring more frequently with increasing magnitude. A well-managed front-line response not only reduces the number of unnecessary hospital admissions but also saves the lives of dengue patients. The objective of this study was to review the Dengue fever outbreak management in Dire Dawa City Administration Ethiopia, March 17_27,2021. The study employed a qualitative research approach, with thematic analysis. A purposive sampling method was used. Data were collected through FGDs, in-depth interviews, and document reviews. The results show there were qualified, experienced, and dedicated professionals for the management of the outbreak. In addition, the engagement of laboratory professionals to decrease the extent of outbreaks and to interrupt the rate of transmission was very interesting. However, the regional dengue fever laboratory investigation was limited to differential diagnosis because of the unavailability of diagnostic methods and essential laboratory equipment.

Assessment of the readiness and response toward the dengue fever outbreak in Sudan: a qualitative exploration

Assessment of the readiness and response toward the dengue fever outbreak in Sudan: a qualitative exploration

Generalized Linear Regression Model to Determine the Threshold Effects of Climate Variables on Dengue Fever: A Case Study on Bangladesh

One of the leading causes of the increase in the intensity of dengue fever transmission is thought to be climate change. Examining panel data from January 2000 to December 2021, this study discovered the nonlinear relationship between climate variables and dengue fever cases in Bangladesh. To determine this relationship, in this study, the monthly total rainfall in different years has been divided into two thresholds: (90 to 360 mm) and (&lt;90 or &gt;360 mm), and the daily average temperature in different months of the different years has been divided into four thresholds: (16°C to ≤20°C), (&gt;20°C to ≤25°C), (&gt;25°C to ≤28°C), and (&gt;28°C to ≤30°C). Then, quasi-Poisson and zero-inflated Poisson regression models were applied to assess the relationship. This study found a positive correlation between temperature and dengue incidence and furthermore discovered that, among those four average temperature thresholds, the total number of dengue cases is maximum if the average temperature falls into the threshold (&gt;28°C to ≤30°C) and minimum if the average temperature falls into the threshold (16°C to ≤20°C). This study also discovered that between the two thresholds of monthly total rainfall, the risk of a dengue fever outbreak is approximately two times higher when the monthly total rainfall falls into the thresholds (90 mm to 360 mm) compared to the other threshold. This study concluded that dengue fever incidence rates would be significantly more affected by climate change in regions with warmer temperatures. The number of dengue cases rises rapidly when the temperature rises in the context of moderate to low rainfall. This study highlights the significance of establishing potential temperature and rainfall thresholds for using risk prediction and public health programs to prevent and control dengue fever.

A second local dengue fever outbreak: A field experience from Muscat Governorate in Oman, 2022

Dengue fever is an infectious disease of global health concern. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology and field experience of a locally transmitted outbreak of dengue fever in Muscat Governorate, Oman from mid-March to mid-April 2022, and the multi-sectoral approach to control the outbreak. Data were collected from an electronic e-notification system, active surveillance and contact investigations. Of 250 suspected and probable cases, 169 were confirmed as dengue fever with DENV-2 serotype. Of these, 108 (63.9%) were male and 94 (55.6%) were Omani. The mean age was 39 years (standard deviation 13 years). Fever was the most common symptom and occurred in 100% of cases. Haemorrhagic manifestations occurred in 10% (n=17) of cases. Hospitalization was required for 93 cases (55.1%). The field investigation included 3444 houses and other suspected sites. Breeding sites for Aedes aegypti were identified in 565 (18.5%) sites visited. Interventions to control the outbreak included environmental and entomological assessment of the affected houses and surrounding areas (400 m radius of each house). Outbreaks are expected to continue, with the possibility of severe cases due to antibody-dependent enhancement. More data are required to understand the genetics, geographical spread and behaviour of A. aegypti in Oman.

Challenges and implications of predicting the spatiotemporal distribution of dengue fever outbreak in Chinese Taiwan using remote sensing data and deep learning

ABSTRACT Ongoing climate change has accelerated the outbreak and expansion of climate-sensitive infectious diseases such as dengue fever. Dengue fever will remain a threat until safe and effective vaccines and antiviral drugs have been developed, distributed, and administered on a global scale. By predicting the spatiotemporal distribution of dengue fever outbreaks, we can effectively implement dengue fever prevention and control. Our study aims to predict the spatiotemporal distribution of dengue fever outbreaks in Chinese Taiwan using a U-Net based encoder – decoder model with daily datasets of sea-surface temperature, rainfall, and shortwave radiation from Remote Sensing (RS) instruments and dengue fever case notification data. Although the prediction accuracy of the proposed model was low and the overlapping areas between the ground truth and pixelwise prediction were few, some of the pixels were located nearby the ground truth, suggesting that the application of RS data and deep learning may help to predict the spatiotemporal distribution of dengue fever outbreaks. With further improvements, the deep learning model might effectively learn a small amount of training data for a specific task.