Diffusion Pattern and Hotspot Detection of Dengue in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

• Published in: Journal of Tropical Medicine
• Main Authors: José Eduardo Marques Pessanha Pessanha, Waleska Teixeira Caiaffa, Maria Cristina de Mattos Almeida, Silvana Tecles Brandão, Fernando Augusto Proietti
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2012
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/760951; https://doaj.org/article/c505e15844d246eab2065a59fdeb6b71

This study considers the dengue occurrence in the city of Belo Horizonte over the last fifteen years. Approximately 186,000 cases registered from 1996 to 2011 were analyzed. The home address of individuals whose dengue case was notified was used as a proxy for exposure location. For determining possible outbreaks of disease and the specific patterns of dengue cases, spatial statistics used included Kernel’s estimation. The occurrence of waves of dengue outbreaks was correlated with climatic and vector presence data. Outbreaks had different durations and intensities: case clustering, thinned out both spatially and temporally. These findings may be useful for public health professionals responsible for fighting the disease providing some tools for improving evaluation of interventions such as vector control and patient care, minimizing the collective and individual burden of the disease.