Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Dengue fever in Saudi Arabia
T2 - A review of environmental and population factors impacting emergence and spread
AU - Altassan, Kholood K.
AU - Morin, Cory
AU - Shocket, Marta
AU - Ebi, Kris
AU - Hess, Jeremy
PY - 2019/8/31
Y1 - 2019/8/31
N2 - Dengue fever (DF) is the most important mosquito-transmitted viral disease causing a large economic and dis- ease burden in many parts of the world. Most DF research focuses on Latin America and Asia, where burdens are highest. There is a critical need for studies in other regions where DF is an important public health problem but less well-characterized and can differ, such as the Middle East. The first documented case of DF in Saudi Arabia occurred in 1993. After a decade of sporadic outbreaks, the disease was declared endemic in 2004 and this designation persists. Climate, sociodemographic factors, and increasing urbanization impact the spread of DF in Saudi Arabia, as in other areas. However, DF transmission in Saudi Arabia is also affected by several unique factors, including large numbers of migrant workers and religious pilgrims from other dengue endemic areas across the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. Important knowledge gaps relate to the role of climatic factors as drivers of DF in Saudi Arabia and the role of foreign workers and pilgrims in the original and continuous importation of dengue virus. Filling these gaps would improve health system preparedness.
AB - Dengue fever (DF) is the most important mosquito-transmitted viral disease causing a large economic and dis- ease burden in many parts of the world. Most DF research focuses on Latin America and Asia, where burdens are highest. There is a critical need for studies in other regions where DF is an important public health problem but less well-characterized and can differ, such as the Middle East. The first documented case of DF in Saudi Arabia occurred in 1993. After a decade of sporadic outbreaks, the disease was declared endemic in 2004 and this designation persists. Climate, sociodemographic factors, and increasing urbanization impact the spread of DF in Saudi Arabia, as in other areas. However, DF transmission in Saudi Arabia is also affected by several unique factors, including large numbers of migrant workers and religious pilgrims from other dengue endemic areas across the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. Important knowledge gaps relate to the role of climatic factors as drivers of DF in Saudi Arabia and the role of foreign workers and pilgrims in the original and continuous importation of dengue virus. Filling these gaps would improve health system preparedness.
U2 - 10.1016/j.tmaid.2019.04.006
DO - 10.1016/j.tmaid.2019.04.006
M3 - Journal article
VL - 30
SP - 46
EP - 53
JO - Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease
JF - Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease
SN - 1477-8939
ER -