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Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal Surveillance of vector-borne infections (chikungunya, dengue, and malaria) in Bo, Sierra Leone, 2012-2013

Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal

Dariano DF, Taitt CR, Jacobsen KH, Bangura U, Bockarie AS, Bockarie MJ, Lahai J, Lamin JM, Leski TA, Yasuda C, Stenger DA, Ansumana R
2017
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 97 (4): 1151-1154

Malaria remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in West Africa, but the contribution of other vector-borne infections (VBIs) to the burden of disease has been understudied. We used rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for three VBIs to test blood samples from 1,795 febrile residents of Bo City, Sierra Leone, over a 1-year period in 2012-2013. In total, 24% of the tests were positive for malaria, fewer than 5% were positive for markers of dengue virus infection, and 39% were positive for IgM directed against chikungunya virus (CHIKV) or a related alphavirus. In total, more than half (55%) of these febrile individuals tested positive for at least one of the three VBIs, which highlights the very high burden of vector-borne diseases in this population. The prevalence of positives on the Chikungunya IgM and dengue tests did not vary significantly with age (P > 0.36), but higher rates of malaria were observed in children < 15 years of age (P < 0.001). Positive results on the Chikungunya IgM RDTs were moderately correlated with rainfall (r(2) = 0.599). Based on the high prevalence of positive results on the Chikungunya IgM RDTs from individuals Bo and its environs, there is a need to examine whether an ecological shift toward a greater burden from CHIKV or related alphaviruses is occurring in other parts of Sierra Leone or the West African region.

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Resource Description

    Precipitation, Seasonality
    Non-United States
    • Non-United States: Africa
    Infectious Disease
    • Infectious Disease: Vectorborne Disease
      • Vectorborne Disease: Mosquito-borne Disease
        • Mosquito-borne Disease: Chikungunya, Dengue, Malaria
        Mosquito-borne Disease
      Vectorborne Disease
    Research Article
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