Unraveling regional variability in Dengue outbreaks in Brazil: leveraging the Moving Epidemics Method (MEM) and climate data to optimize vector control strategies.

A country with continental dimensions like Brazil, characterized by heterogeneity of climates, biomes, natural resources, population density, socioeconomic conditions, and regional challenges, also exhibits significant spatial variation in dengue outbreaks. This study aimed to characterize Brazilian...

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Main Authors: Ayrton Sena Gouveia, Marcelo Ferreira da Costa Gomes, Iasmim Ferreira de Almeida, Raquel Martins Lana, Leonardo Soares Bastos, Lucas Monteiro Bianchi, Sara de Souza Oliveira, Eduardo Correa Araujo, Danielle Andreza da Cruz Ferreira, Dalila Machado Botelho Oliveira, Vinicius Barbosa Godinho, Luã Bida Vacaro, Thais Irene Souza Riback, Oswaldo Gonçalves Cruz, Flávio Codeço Coelho, Cláudia Torres Codeço
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-06-01
Series:PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0013175
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author Ayrton Sena Gouveia
Marcelo Ferreira da Costa Gomes
Iasmim Ferreira de Almeida
Raquel Martins Lana
Leonardo Soares Bastos
Lucas Monteiro Bianchi
Sara de Souza Oliveira
Eduardo Correa Araujo
Danielle Andreza da Cruz Ferreira
Dalila Machado Botelho Oliveira
Vinicius Barbosa Godinho
Luã Bida Vacaro
Thais Irene Souza Riback
Oswaldo Gonçalves Cruz
Flávio Codeço Coelho
Cláudia Torres Codeço
author_facet Ayrton Sena Gouveia
Marcelo Ferreira da Costa Gomes
Iasmim Ferreira de Almeida
Raquel Martins Lana
Leonardo Soares Bastos
Lucas Monteiro Bianchi
Sara de Souza Oliveira
Eduardo Correa Araujo
Danielle Andreza da Cruz Ferreira
Dalila Machado Botelho Oliveira
Vinicius Barbosa Godinho
Luã Bida Vacaro
Thais Irene Souza Riback
Oswaldo Gonçalves Cruz
Flávio Codeço Coelho
Cláudia Torres Codeço
author_sort Ayrton Sena Gouveia
collection DOAJ
description A country with continental dimensions like Brazil, characterized by heterogeneity of climates, biomes, natural resources, population density, socioeconomic conditions, and regional challenges, also exhibits significant spatial variation in dengue outbreaks. This study aimed to characterize Brazilian territory based on epidemiological and climate data to determine the optimal time to guide preventive and control strategies. To achieve this, the Moving Epidemics Method (MEM) was employed to analyze dengue historical patterns using 14-year disease data (2010-2023) aggregated by the 120 Brazilian Health Macro-Regions (HMR). Statistical outputs from MEM included the mean outbreak onset, duration, and variation of these measurements, pre- and post-epidemic thresholds, and the high-intensity level of cases. Environmental data used includes mean annual precipitation, temperature, and altitude, as well as the Köppen Climate Classification of each area. A multivariate cluster analysis using the k-means algorithm was applied to MEM outputs and climate data. Four clusters/regions were identified, with the mean temperature, mean precipitation, mean outbreak onset, high-intensity level of cases, and mean altitude explaining 80% of the centroid variation among the clusters. Region 1 (North-Northwest) encompasses areas with the highest temperatures, precipitation, and early outbreak onset, in February. Region 2a (Northeast) has the lowest precipitation and a later onset, in March. Region 3 (Southeast) presents higher altitude, and early outbreak onset in February; while Region 4 (South) has a lower temperature, with onset in March. To better adjust the results, the unique Roraima state HMR state was manually classified as Region 2b (Roraima) because of its outbreak onset in July and the highest precipitation volume. The results suggested preventive and control measures should be implemented first in Regions North-Northwest and Southeast, followed by Regions Northeast, South, and Roraima, highlighting the importance of regional vector control measures based on historical and climatic patterns. Integrating these findings with monitoring systems and fostering cross-sector collaboration can enhance surveillance and mitigate future outbreaks. The proposed methodology also holds potential for application in controlling other mosquito-transmitted viral diseases, expanding its public health impact.
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issn 1935-2727
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publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
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series PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
spelling doaj-art-6d9f3507d97442c1bfec1416ef879e412025-08-20T03:17:51ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases1935-27271935-27352025-06-01196e001317510.1371/journal.pntd.0013175Unraveling regional variability in Dengue outbreaks in Brazil: leveraging the Moving Epidemics Method (MEM) and climate data to optimize vector control strategies.Ayrton Sena GouveiaMarcelo Ferreira da Costa GomesIasmim Ferreira de AlmeidaRaquel Martins LanaLeonardo Soares BastosLucas Monteiro BianchiSara de Souza OliveiraEduardo Correa AraujoDanielle Andreza da Cruz FerreiraDalila Machado Botelho OliveiraVinicius Barbosa GodinhoLuã Bida VacaroThais Irene Souza RibackOswaldo Gonçalves CruzFlávio Codeço CoelhoCláudia Torres CodeçoA country with continental dimensions like Brazil, characterized by heterogeneity of climates, biomes, natural resources, population density, socioeconomic conditions, and regional challenges, also exhibits significant spatial variation in dengue outbreaks. This study aimed to characterize Brazilian territory based on epidemiological and climate data to determine the optimal time to guide preventive and control strategies. To achieve this, the Moving Epidemics Method (MEM) was employed to analyze dengue historical patterns using 14-year disease data (2010-2023) aggregated by the 120 Brazilian Health Macro-Regions (HMR). Statistical outputs from MEM included the mean outbreak onset, duration, and variation of these measurements, pre- and post-epidemic thresholds, and the high-intensity level of cases. Environmental data used includes mean annual precipitation, temperature, and altitude, as well as the Köppen Climate Classification of each area. A multivariate cluster analysis using the k-means algorithm was applied to MEM outputs and climate data. Four clusters/regions were identified, with the mean temperature, mean precipitation, mean outbreak onset, high-intensity level of cases, and mean altitude explaining 80% of the centroid variation among the clusters. Region 1 (North-Northwest) encompasses areas with the highest temperatures, precipitation, and early outbreak onset, in February. Region 2a (Northeast) has the lowest precipitation and a later onset, in March. Region 3 (Southeast) presents higher altitude, and early outbreak onset in February; while Region 4 (South) has a lower temperature, with onset in March. To better adjust the results, the unique Roraima state HMR state was manually classified as Region 2b (Roraima) because of its outbreak onset in July and the highest precipitation volume. The results suggested preventive and control measures should be implemented first in Regions North-Northwest and Southeast, followed by Regions Northeast, South, and Roraima, highlighting the importance of regional vector control measures based on historical and climatic patterns. Integrating these findings with monitoring systems and fostering cross-sector collaboration can enhance surveillance and mitigate future outbreaks. The proposed methodology also holds potential for application in controlling other mosquito-transmitted viral diseases, expanding its public health impact.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0013175
spellingShingle Ayrton Sena Gouveia
Marcelo Ferreira da Costa Gomes
Iasmim Ferreira de Almeida
Raquel Martins Lana
Leonardo Soares Bastos
Lucas Monteiro Bianchi
Sara de Souza Oliveira
Eduardo Correa Araujo
Danielle Andreza da Cruz Ferreira
Dalila Machado Botelho Oliveira
Vinicius Barbosa Godinho
Luã Bida Vacaro
Thais Irene Souza Riback
Oswaldo Gonçalves Cruz
Flávio Codeço Coelho
Cláudia Torres Codeço
Unraveling regional variability in Dengue outbreaks in Brazil: leveraging the Moving Epidemics Method (MEM) and climate data to optimize vector control strategies.
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
title Unraveling regional variability in Dengue outbreaks in Brazil: leveraging the Moving Epidemics Method (MEM) and climate data to optimize vector control strategies.
title_full Unraveling regional variability in Dengue outbreaks in Brazil: leveraging the Moving Epidemics Method (MEM) and climate data to optimize vector control strategies.
title_fullStr Unraveling regional variability in Dengue outbreaks in Brazil: leveraging the Moving Epidemics Method (MEM) and climate data to optimize vector control strategies.
title_full_unstemmed Unraveling regional variability in Dengue outbreaks in Brazil: leveraging the Moving Epidemics Method (MEM) and climate data to optimize vector control strategies.
title_short Unraveling regional variability in Dengue outbreaks in Brazil: leveraging the Moving Epidemics Method (MEM) and climate data to optimize vector control strategies.
title_sort unraveling regional variability in dengue outbreaks in brazil leveraging the moving epidemics method mem and climate data to optimize vector control strategies
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0013175
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