Evaluation of dengue fever vulnerability in south and southeast asian countries: A multidimensional approach

Background: Climate change is raising the risk of dengue fever outbreaks in South and Southeast Asia, where public health challenges persist. Warmer temperatures promote year-round mosquito breeding and pathogen transmission, particularly in crowded urban areas. This underscores the urgent need for...

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Main Authors: Yawen Wang, Conglu Li, Shi Zhao, Guozhang Lin, Xiaoting Jiang, Shi Yin, Mu He, Qianyu Wu, Zihao Guo, Yuchen Wei, Chao Ren, Ka Chun Chong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Journal of Infection and Public Health
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034125001984
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author Yawen Wang
Conglu Li
Shi Zhao
Guozhang Lin
Xiaoting Jiang
Shi Yin
Mu He
Qianyu Wu
Zihao Guo
Yuchen Wei
Chao Ren
Ka Chun Chong
author_facet Yawen Wang
Conglu Li
Shi Zhao
Guozhang Lin
Xiaoting Jiang
Shi Yin
Mu He
Qianyu Wu
Zihao Guo
Yuchen Wei
Chao Ren
Ka Chun Chong
author_sort Yawen Wang
collection DOAJ
description Background: Climate change is raising the risk of dengue fever outbreaks in South and Southeast Asia, where public health challenges persist. Warmer temperatures promote year-round mosquito breeding and pathogen transmission, particularly in crowded urban areas. This underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive assessment to develop effective prevention strategies and improve health outcomes. This study evaluated the relationship between dengue fever vulnerability and disease incidence in three countries in the region. Methods: Monthly dengue surveillance data from 2012 to 2018 were collected in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Thailand, alongside environmental and socioeconomic data. Principal component analysis and binomial regression model were used to calculate the vulnerability index and evaluate the relationship between dengue infection, vulnerability, and its seasonality. Results: The results indicated significant spatial variations in vulnerability across the three countries. High-vulnerability regions included western coastal Sri Lanka, western and southern Thailand, and eastern Malaysia, with notable seasonal fluctuations in high-risk areas. Areas with higher vulnerability levels were associated with increased dengue fever incidence rate ratios (IRRs), particularly in Sri Lanka (IRR= 1.97, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.08–3.65) and Thailand (IRR= 14.56, 95 % CI: 5.55–39.90). Notably, the IRR increased significantly during the warm seasons, particularly in August in Sri Lanka (high vs. low, IRR= 6.11, 95 % CI: 2.83–13.47) and in June in Thailand (middle-high vs. low, IRR= 23.61, 95 % CI: 9.39–61.67). Conclusions: The spatial heterogeneity of dengue vulnerability suggests that targeted public health interventions are essential for mitigating dengue fever risks, particularly in regions vulnerable to climate change.
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spelling doaj-art-9dffeac8bf3e4f25aacc3fe4545c5b012025-08-20T02:49:37ZengElsevierJournal of Infection and Public Health1876-03412025-09-0118910284910.1016/j.jiph.2025.102849Evaluation of dengue fever vulnerability in south and southeast asian countries: A multidimensional approachYawen Wang0Conglu Li1Shi Zhao2Guozhang Lin3Xiaoting Jiang4Shi Yin5Mu He6Qianyu Wu7Zihao Guo8Yuchen Wei9Chao Ren10Ka Chun Chong11Division of Landscape Architecture, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, Hong KongJockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong KongSchool of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, ChinaJockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong KongJockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong KongSchool of Architecture, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Mathematics and Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaMailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, USAJockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong KongJockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Centre for Health Systems and Policy Research, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong KongDivision of Landscape Architecture, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, Hong KongJockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Centre for Health Systems and Policy Research, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Correspondence to: JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong KongBackground: Climate change is raising the risk of dengue fever outbreaks in South and Southeast Asia, where public health challenges persist. Warmer temperatures promote year-round mosquito breeding and pathogen transmission, particularly in crowded urban areas. This underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive assessment to develop effective prevention strategies and improve health outcomes. This study evaluated the relationship between dengue fever vulnerability and disease incidence in three countries in the region. Methods: Monthly dengue surveillance data from 2012 to 2018 were collected in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Thailand, alongside environmental and socioeconomic data. Principal component analysis and binomial regression model were used to calculate the vulnerability index and evaluate the relationship between dengue infection, vulnerability, and its seasonality. Results: The results indicated significant spatial variations in vulnerability across the three countries. High-vulnerability regions included western coastal Sri Lanka, western and southern Thailand, and eastern Malaysia, with notable seasonal fluctuations in high-risk areas. Areas with higher vulnerability levels were associated with increased dengue fever incidence rate ratios (IRRs), particularly in Sri Lanka (IRR= 1.97, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.08–3.65) and Thailand (IRR= 14.56, 95 % CI: 5.55–39.90). Notably, the IRR increased significantly during the warm seasons, particularly in August in Sri Lanka (high vs. low, IRR= 6.11, 95 % CI: 2.83–13.47) and in June in Thailand (middle-high vs. low, IRR= 23.61, 95 % CI: 9.39–61.67). Conclusions: The spatial heterogeneity of dengue vulnerability suggests that targeted public health interventions are essential for mitigating dengue fever risks, particularly in regions vulnerable to climate change.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034125001984Climate changeVulnerabilityDengue feverSoutheast Asia
spellingShingle Yawen Wang
Conglu Li
Shi Zhao
Guozhang Lin
Xiaoting Jiang
Shi Yin
Mu He
Qianyu Wu
Zihao Guo
Yuchen Wei
Chao Ren
Ka Chun Chong
Evaluation of dengue fever vulnerability in south and southeast asian countries: A multidimensional approach
Journal of Infection and Public Health
Climate change
Vulnerability
Dengue fever
Southeast Asia
title Evaluation of dengue fever vulnerability in south and southeast asian countries: A multidimensional approach
title_full Evaluation of dengue fever vulnerability in south and southeast asian countries: A multidimensional approach
title_fullStr Evaluation of dengue fever vulnerability in south and southeast asian countries: A multidimensional approach
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of dengue fever vulnerability in south and southeast asian countries: A multidimensional approach
title_short Evaluation of dengue fever vulnerability in south and southeast asian countries: A multidimensional approach
title_sort evaluation of dengue fever vulnerability in south and southeast asian countries a multidimensional approach
topic Climate change
Vulnerability
Dengue fever
Southeast Asia
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034125001984
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