Dengue Infections during COVID-19 Period: Reflection of Reality or Elusive Data Due to Effect of Pandemic

Sakirul Khan (), Sheikh Mohammad Fazle Akbar, Takaaki Yahiro, Mamun Al Mahtab, Kazunori Kimitsuki, Takehiro Hashimoto and Akira Nishizono ()
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Sakirul Khan: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Yufu 879-5593, Oita, Japan
Sheikh Mohammad Fazle Akbar: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon 791-0295, Ehime, Japan
Takaaki Yahiro: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Yufu 879-5593, Oita, Japan
Mamun Al Mahtab: Division of Interventional Hepatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Kazunori Kimitsuki: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Yufu 879-5593, Oita, Japan
Takehiro Hashimoto: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Yufu 879-5593, Oita, Japan
Akira Nishizono: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Yufu 879-5593, Oita, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-12

Abstract: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) devastated the overall health management strategy of most countries. In this scenario, the present study provided insights into the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dengue infection. This ecological study retrieved data from WHO/Government reporting system from 22 major dengue epidemic countries. Incidence of dengue infections during the pre-COVID-19 time (2015~2019) and COVID-19 period (2020~2021) was compared. A correlation between the dengue and COVID-19 cases and predicted dengue incidence in 2022 was calculated using the linear regression equation. Data indicated that dengue incidences across the studied area decreased by 16% during the pandemic period (2.73 million vs. 2.29 million; p < 0.05) than the same reported in pre-COVID-19 time. Although countries in Latin America reported more cases than Asia, a positive correlation (r = 0.83) between dengue and COVID-19 cases was observed in Asia. Prediction analysis warned that specific preparation for dengue management is needed in some countries of both regions in 2022 to contain the upsurge in incidences. Due to the similar nature of symptoms of dengue and COVID-19, a state of confusion will be prevailing during the ongoing pandemic. Therefore, comprehensive and evidence-based scientific approaches were warranted at all levels.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; dengue; sporadic increase; practical containment; Asia; Latin America (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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