Assessing the risk for dengue fever based on socioeconomic and environmental variables in a geographical information system environment

Abstract

Abstract. An important option in preventing the spread of dengue fever (DF) is to control and monitor its vector (Aedes aegypti) as well as to locate and destroy suitable mosquito breeding environments. The aim of the present study was to use a combination of environmental and socioeconomic variables to model areas at risk of DF. These variables include clinically confirmed DF cases, mosquito counts, population density in inhabited areas, total populations per district, water access, neighbourhood quality and the spatio-temporal risk of DF based on the average, weekly frequency of DF incidence. Out of 111 districts investigated, 17 (15%), covering a total area of 121 km², were identified as of high risk, 25 (22%), covering 133 km², were identified as of medium risk, 18 (16%), covering 180 km², were identified as of low risk and 51 (46%), covering 726 km², were identified as of very low risk. The resultant model shows that most areas at risk of DF were concentrated in the central part of Jeddah county, Saudi Arabia. The methods used can be implemented as routine procedures for control and prevention. A concerted intervention in the medium-and high-risk level districts identified in this study could be highly effective in reducing transmission of DF in the area as a whole.

The epidemiology of Dengue fever in Saudi Arabia: A systematic review

“…Third, these pilgrimages occur during the rainy season. Fourth, more humidity and high temperatures may help exacerbate the situation [16,17], making Makkah and Jeddah more susceptible to infectious diseases [7]. Some sporadic cases in Jizan have been described as due to the nature of the city; Jizan is relatively flat and located at sea level; hence, the likelihood of the formation of small stagnant water collections is high following the rainfall [15].…”

“…These variables included clinically confirmed DF cases, mosquito counts, population density in inhabited areas, total population per district, water access, neighborhood quality, and the spatio-temporal risk of DF based on the average weekly frequency of DF incidence. Increased mean population density was a significant factor in determining the risk for DF [16].…”

Higher Mosquito Production in Low-Income Neighborhoods of Baltimore and Washington, DC: Understanding Ecological Drivers and Mosquito-Borne Disease Risk in Temperate Cities

“…Socioeconomic status and segregation of economic resources across neighborhoods have a profound effect on ecosystem function, resident engagement, and sustainable revitalization efforts [67,68,69]. Similar socioeconomic forces and disparities are frequently invoked as drivers of mosquito infestations and mosquito-borne disease [70,71,72,73,74,75], but how these play out in developed countries like the U.S. where public health infrastructure is generally viewed as pervasive is of increasing interest [60,61,64,76,77,78]. A 1990 study in California [75] found that automatic watering devices associated with one affluent neighborhood were associated with more breeding habitat and more adult mosquitoes.…”

Identification of wild collected mosquito vectors of diseases using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia

“…stephensi Liston. Several of the aforementioned species have been implicated as vectors of arboviruses in other areas or in Saudi Arabia . Also, Cs.…”