Milken Institute School of Public Health Poster Presentations (Marvin Center & Video)
Incidence of Dengue among U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers, 2000 – 2014
Poster Number
80
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
3-2016
Abstract
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease that currently threatens as many as 3.97 billion people globally living in tropical and subtropical climates. Dengue infection can range from being asymptomatic to causing severe plasma leakage and even death. The incidence of dengue has continued to increase over the past 50 years, and the lack of a vaccine or specific treatment makes disease surveillance essential to reducing morbidity and mortality. United States Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) are a globally-distributed group of long-term travelers that often volunteer in dengue-endemic countries. This study aims to describe the patterns of dengue incidence among PCVs between 2000 and 2014. Laboratory-confirmed cases of dengue reported among PCVs from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2014 were analyzed. The overall global incidence rate of dengue among PCVs was 1.12 cases per 1,000 Volunteer/Trainee (VT) months. The highest cumulative rate of dengue was reported among PCVs in the Caribbean region (5.51 cases per 1,000 VT months) followed by East and South Asia (3.34), Central America (2.55), and the Pacific Islands (2.30). The comparison of yearly dengue incidence rates among PCVs in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and the Philippines to WHO reported incidence rates led to relative risk estimates ranging from 852.9 to 1.1. PCVs appear to have similar dengue incidence rates to other long-term travelers, but greater incidence rates than country-natives. The incidence rates of dengue among PCVs vary by year and region. Continued surveillance is critical for understanding the dynamic epidemiology of dengue and developing evidence-based intervention efforts.
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Open Access
1
Incidence of Dengue among U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers, 2000 – 2014
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease that currently threatens as many as 3.97 billion people globally living in tropical and subtropical climates. Dengue infection can range from being asymptomatic to causing severe plasma leakage and even death. The incidence of dengue has continued to increase over the past 50 years, and the lack of a vaccine or specific treatment makes disease surveillance essential to reducing morbidity and mortality. United States Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) are a globally-distributed group of long-term travelers that often volunteer in dengue-endemic countries. This study aims to describe the patterns of dengue incidence among PCVs between 2000 and 2014. Laboratory-confirmed cases of dengue reported among PCVs from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2014 were analyzed. The overall global incidence rate of dengue among PCVs was 1.12 cases per 1,000 Volunteer/Trainee (VT) months. The highest cumulative rate of dengue was reported among PCVs in the Caribbean region (5.51 cases per 1,000 VT months) followed by East and South Asia (3.34), Central America (2.55), and the Pacific Islands (2.30). The comparison of yearly dengue incidence rates among PCVs in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and the Philippines to WHO reported incidence rates led to relative risk estimates ranging from 852.9 to 1.1. PCVs appear to have similar dengue incidence rates to other long-term travelers, but greater incidence rates than country-natives. The incidence rates of dengue among PCVs vary by year and region. Continued surveillance is critical for understanding the dynamic epidemiology of dengue and developing evidence-based intervention efforts.
Comments
Presented at: GW Research Days 2016