Epidemiological profile of dengue in Champasak and Savannakhet provinces, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 2003–2020
10.5365/wpsar.2022.13.4.932
- Author:
Sumaira Zafar
1
;
Hans J Overgaard
2
;
Tiengkham Pongvongsa
3
;
Nanthasane Vannavong
4
;
Sysavanh Phommachanh
5
;
Oleg Shipin
1
;
Joacim Rocklöv
6
;
Richard E Paul
7
;
Md Siddikur Rahman
8
;
Mayfong Mayxay
9
Author Information
1. Department of Environmental Engineering and Management, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand
2. Faculty of Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway; Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
3. Savannakhet Provincial Health Department, Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR
4. Champasak Provincial Health Office, Pakse, Lao PDR
5. Institute of Research and Education Development, University of Health Sciences, Ministry of Health, Vientiane, Lao PDR
6. Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Sustainable Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
7. Unité de la Génétique Fonctionnelle des Maladies Infectieuses, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
8. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand; Department of Statistics, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, Bangladesh
9. Institute of Research and Education Development, University of Health Sciences, Ministry of Health, Vientiane, Lao PDR; Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Microbiology Laboratory, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao PDR; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
dengue, epidemiology, Laos, disease burden, epidemiologic surveillance, seasonal variation, disease notification
- From:
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response
2022;13(4):30-42
- CountryWHO-WPRO
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Dengue is a public health issue in tropical south-eastern Asia responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. Information on dengue epidemiology is necessary for developing strategies to control infections effectively. In the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Champasak and Savannakhet provinces account for around 30% of the national dengue burden. In this study, the dengue epidemiological profile in these two southern provinces of Lao PDR was described by analysing seasonal and spatial dengue notification data from 2003–2020 using the long-term mean (LTM) method. Savannakhet had a higher LTM (132.0 cases/month, 95% confidence interval [Cl]: 92.2–171.7) than Champasak (113.3 cases/month, 95% CI: 86.0–140.5), with peaks in dengue notifications following the rainy season in both provinces. The highest notification rates were observed in July to September; these months were also when the LTM was most frequently exceeded. Previously, dengue notifications were largely confined to the western districts of Savannakhet and the northern districts of Champasak, but more recently, notifications have increased in the eastern districts of Savannakhet and southern districts of Champasak. While the notification rate remained high in children and young adults (5–30 years), especially among students and farmers, a shift in the age structure of dengue cases was observed, with a greater proportion of notifications now occurring in those aged over 30 years. Community-based vector control and prevention programmes are needed to restrict the spread of dengue into new geographical areas in the southern provinces of Lao PDR.
- Full text:2024061710513853960wpsar-13-932.pdf
