Preventing dengue epidemics: how to better assist holistic vaccination efforts

Abstract

Dengue virus is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality with an estimated 400million people infected annually worldwide, while only about one-quarter of cases manifesting clinically.1 Clinical features are non-specific and include; high grade fever, headache, rash, joint and muscle pains, bone pains, and mild bleeding. The rising trend of the disease could be attributed to globalization, trade, travel, demographic trends, and warming temperatures that result in the recent spread of the primary vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.2 Therefore climate change is considered an important determinant of dengue spread. Improved reporting and diagnostic techniques may also play an important role in increasing number of cases being reported. Dengue is currently endemic in over 100 countries with about 3.9billion people at risk.3