A web-GIS approach to mapping dengue outbreaks
Dengue fever was first recorded in Pakistan in 1982, with about a dozen cases confirmed. The disease has been spreading in scope and intensity over the last few decades, with a major outbreak in 2010 launching a new period of frequent and severe outbreaks for this high burden country. Efforts are being stepped up to both prevent infections within communities as well as harness numerous and innovative approaches to predict when and where outbreaks might occur to best channel r
Mosquito control: targeting breeding sites using street view images
In addition to personal protection against mosquito bites and the chemical control of mosquitoes and their larvae, the removal of common breeding sites is one of the most important and effective steps in controlling mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit. Recent research has sought to use geotagged images obtained through Google's Street View to map the most common types of open containers in order to facilitate and accelerate the detection of these and generate a decision
Dengue hospitalisations in Singapore: reducing the burden of epidemics on healthcare systems
Singapore has regularly faced outbreaks of dengue. Following a severe epidemic in 2005, authorities reviewed hospital admission criteria in a bid to reduce pressures on the healthcare system. In this Infectious Thoughts interview, we speak to Ms. Li Wei Ang, a principal medical statistician in the National Public Health and Epidemiology Unit at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore, about recent research evaluating the impact of reduced hospital admissions fo
Towards the biocontrol of dengue: copepods as predators of Aedes larvae in Sri Lanka
With the expansion of the disease-transmitting Aedes mosquitoes worldwide, researchers have been exploring control strategies to enhance and complement traditional chemical and mechanical vector control methods. The biocontrol of Aedes larvae by natural predators such as copepods or guppy fish has been increasingly studied and evaluated. Recent research conducted in Sri Lanka has assessed the potential for the biocontrol of Aedes larvae by five locally available copepods. In
Prudence Hamade (Myanmar & UK): contracting dengue while working in an outbreak
Dr. Prudence Hamade is Senior Technical Advisor at Malaria Consortium. Trained as a pediatrician, she has more than 20 years’ multi-country experience on implementing and capacity building initiatives to improve quality of care and control of infectious diseases, malnutrition and child health and has provided technical oversight and management for neglected tropical diseases programmes in sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia. In 2001, Prudence fell ill with dengue while work
Hadian Sasmita (Indonesia): dengue at age twelve
Hadian Sasmita is a researcher at the National Nuclear Energy Agency, Indonesia. Hadian contracted dengue while she was a child, aged 12, during an outbreak in the capital city Jakarta. Hadian talks about her experience fighting this infection in the story below. I got infected with the dengue virus when I was 12 years old - this was 20 years ago. After my first symptoms, my infection was clinically confirmed by a medical doctor. When I think back, I remember we had to go to
Yellow fever in Italy: an Infectious Thoughts interview
Despite a relatively low incidence of yellow fever in recent decades following effective vaccination campaigns, outbreaks of this disease have recently returned in numerous regions worldwide. In recent research, a team of Italian researchers has evaluated the risk of autochthonous yellow fever transmission in the Lazio region of central Italy. In this Infectious Thoughts interview, we hear more about the threat of yellow fever and recurrent arbovirus outbreaks in the Mediterr
Dr. Mardiati Nadjib (Indonesia): The economic burden of dengue in Indonesia
Dr. Mardiati Nadjib is a researcher in the Health Policy and Administration Department at Universitas Indonesia, in Depok, Indonesia. Indonesia has some of the highest rates of dengue cases worldwide and in recent work, Dr. Nadjib and colleagues have sought to improve the evaluation of the economic burden of dengue on the Indonesian health system, making the case for reinforcing investment in dengue prevention and in strengthening local and international partnerships to tackl
Gregory Rose (Cambodia): contracting dengue while working in Cambodian slums
Gregory Rose, now Health & WASH Technical Team Manager at the British Red Cross, had been working as a consultant for WHO in Cambodia when he was struck with dengue fever. In this patient testimonial, Gregory Rose speaks about the risk posed by mosquitoes for those in poor areas as well as the far-reaching economic consequences of being ill with dengue. I had been working in a slum in Cambodia, now demolished and replaced with luxury accommodation. Back at the time, the local
Nicola Hill (UK): dengue, an infection with far-reaching consequences
Nicola Hill is an acclaimed British health journalist and seasoned traveller. When dengue fever hit her while meeting with her daughter in Bali, Nicola's trip was ruined but in addition her outlook for future travel to tropical regions was changed forever. This is Nicola's story. It was the rash that made me seek medical help; it was the final symptom that made me think this wasn't flu but possibly something more serious. I had been suffering with a headache and increasing ex
