CGPH FACULTY: Eva Harris
DATE OF PUBLICATION: November 2014
REGION: Global
REFERENCE: Shepard DS, Undurraga EA, Betancourt-Cravioto M, Guzmán MG, Halstead SB, Harris E, Mudin RN, Murray KO, Tapia-Conyer R, Gubler DJ. Approaches to refining estimates of global burden and economics of dengue. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014 Nov 20;8(11):e3306. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003306. eCollection 2014 Nov.
SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: Dengue presents a formidable and growing global economic and disease burden, with around half the world’s population estimated to be at risk of infection. There is wide variation and substantial uncertainty in current estimates of dengue disease burden and, consequently, on economic burden estimates. Dengue disease varies across time, geography and persons affected. Variations in the transmission of four different viruses and interactions among vector density and host’s immune status, age, pre-existing medical conditions, all contribute to the disease’s complexity. Long-term efforts aim at strengthening capacity to document dengue transmission using serological methods to systematically analyze and relate to epidemiologic data. As promising tools for diagnosis, vaccination, vector control, and treatment are being developed, these recommended steps should improve objective, systematic measures of dengue burden to strengthen health policy decisions.
ACCESS: Link to Pubmed